BY GERRY LEE GORIT & JESSIE MONGCAL
LUMBATAN, Lanao del Sur – A top official of the military has assured the people that Lumbatan municipality in this province is now under control by the military and the police during the conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Elections (BSKE).
“Ngayon pong day of election mayron tayong 10 hotspots. Sa 10 hotspots majority and deployment ng ating tropa para mag handle ng crowd. Three days napo ako dito at wala pa namang kaguluhan,” says 1sr Lieutenant Rommel de los Reyes of the Philippine Army’s First 51st Infantry Division.
He said that historically there have been chaos in the 10 barangays in Lumbatan, Lanao del Sur so the police and the army are now massively monitoring the barangays under special concerns.
“Mag iikot kami sa limang voting precincts dito para ma ensure natin ang peaceful and orderly conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE),” he told MDN in an exclusive interview.
In critical areas, the army augmented hundreds of soldiers and PNP support teams. Military arsenals including tanks and heavily armed government forces are also deployed to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections.

