800 soldiers deployed in NCR to secure village polls

AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine military will deploy more than 800 soldiers to secure the village (barangay) elections in the National Capital Region on October 28.

Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, military spokesperson, said on Tuesday that each major service will provide 67 soldiers to be placed under the operational control of the Joint Task Force-NCR to augment its troops.

A total of 861 soldiers will be deployed. It took effect on October 21 until October 30.

“The JTF-NCR will commit its units for security augmentation in election-related tasks given that the Philippine National Police, through the NCR Police Office, will primarily carry-out the operation,” he said.

The tasks of the soldiers include manning of checkpoints and visibility patrols; establishment of Joint Security Assistance Desks; security of 743 voting centers; and security of vital installations.

“AFP units will also undergo pre-deployment lectures pertaining to legal procedures in the conduct of said election-related tasks,” Zagala said.

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