Safe and Clean Polls Eyed In Abra

February 24, 2019 Provincial

LAGANGILANG, Abra — Authorities eye a safe, clean, credible and
violence-free polls in Abra this May. Soldiers stationed in the
province under the Philippine Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion,
the Commission on Elections and the police in a coordinating
conference in the capital on Friday planned out strategic solutions to avert election related problems before, during and after elections.
Paying attention on the role of the police and the military during the election period, stakeholders planned out how potential problems could arise in the 27 towns in the province especially where historic
intense political rivalries had broken out in the past.
Abra acting Provincial Election Supervisor Vanessa Mico-Roncal gave premium to the collective effort of all governmental agencies
involved in the elections, while thanking the police and the military for their sacrifices including their own safety if only to secure the electoral process.
With these efforts, she said, “we exercise our freedom to vote without fear.”
“The Philippine Army promised full support to the effort to bring a safe and credible elections in the province,” vowed Commanding
General of the 7th Infantry Division Brigadier General Lenard Agustin.
“Your Army is all ready to support the PNP in all its undertakings to secure the conduct of the May 13, 2019 elections,” Agustin added.
While Brigadier Gen. Henry Robinson, Jr. is heading the 702nd Brigade, he promised to deliver unbiased service to the people it serves specially during the elections.
Earlier, Battalion Commander of the 24th Infantry Lt Col Jearie Boy Faminial promised soldiers will be neutral during the elections while urging voters to wisely choose leaders that spell our future.
Abra had activated “Abra Shield”, a unique public safety force composed of the 1501st Regional Mobile First Battalion, 22nd Special Action Company, PNP-Special Action Force and Provincial
Mobile Force Company to implement the gun ban and to intensify the anti-crime operations against loose fire arms and private armed groups.
Aside from checkpoints, policemen had been on foot and mobile patrols all over the province.

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN