Army secures transport of 1.9M ballots, VCMs for elections

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) has ensured the safe transfer and delivery of election paraphernalia in Negros Occidental starting April 28.

The Army assisted the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the police in providing security to the transport of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) and the 1.9 million ballots to the respective voting centers for the national and local elections (NLE) on May 9.

In a message, Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte said that “despite the extraordinary situation faced by Negrosanons brought about by the pandemic, the Army in Negros together with the police and the Comelec is committed in ensuring a Safe, Accurate, Fair, Election (SAFE) NLE this year.”

“We will remain non-partisan and will perform our election duties to ensure the successful conduct of the national and local election,” Pasaporte said.

Pasaporte also assured that military troopers, along with the police will provide intensive security measures in areas that need extra security, particularly those identified as election hotspot areas.

Meanwhile, Police Colonel Leo Pamittan, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) inspected yesterday officers who will be deployed to the different city and municipal police stations as augmentation force for the elections.

A total of 230 personnel from the provincial headquarters were inspected and were directed to report to their respective stations where they will render their duty on May 9.

Pamittan reminded the personnel to be vigilant in performing the mission.

“Always be mindful, dapat aware kayo lagi”, he said.