Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 29) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday said it deployed over 100,000 personnel for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Monday.
AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said military units are on “red alert,” which requires full attendance of personnel to immediately respond to critical incidents or emergencies.
He added that the red alert status was in effect nationwide since Saturday and will run until the end of the election period.
“It (alert red status) can be extended by the different commanders on the ground, depending on the situation,” Aguilar explained.
Military forces in South Cotabato are also on heightened alert after an encounter with the militants on Saturday.
Division head Major General Alex Rillera said one soldier was killed during the encounter, which lasted for about 20 minutes.
As of Oct. 20, 361 villages nationwide are in the red category of the PNP’s list of election hotspots, where around 70% of these areas are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Philippine National Police said.
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