On having clean, peaceful polls, AFP chief says: ‘It can be done’

CAMP G. NAKAR, Lucena City – It can be done. Thus, said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Hernando DCA Iriberri on the prospect of having peaceful and credible elections in 2016.

During his visit to the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) on Saturday, Iriberri personally checked the current campaign plan and election preparations of the Solcom.

He also presented and shared his initiatives and best practices when he was brigade commander, of what commanders and all units can do before, during, and after the elections.

“One imperative that every soldier must (exercise) at all times is to maintain his non-partisan stance,” Iriberri said.

He added that through coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec), field commanders should have started gathering data and statistics because these will play a big factor in making their respective election security plan.

Among those present during the CSAFP’s visit were Solcom Chief Lieutenant General Ricardo R. Visaya, the two Army Infantry Division Commanders Major General Romeo G. Gan (2ID) and Brigadier General Ferdinand F. Quidilla (9thID), Commander of the Naval Forces Southern Luzon Commodore Injemar Pernes, two Tactical Operations Group, PAF Commanders, and six Infantry Brigade Commanders ,and their respective staffs.

Iriberri directed the commanders to start identifying the problem areas based on historical data as baseline.

He said private armed groups should not be able to sow fear during election period. “When campaign period starts, we should implement election laws strictly but (in a) fair (manner),” he added.

“Let us be firm but keep our communication lines open,” he said. He also encouraged everyone to espouse a united effort with the PNP and Comelec.