The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has placed the military and the police under its control in preparation for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Oct. 29.

There is a memorandum of agreement between the COMELEC and the Department of National Defense to insulate the military from partisan politics.

• In a resolution, the COMELEC has deputized the Philippine National Police as the lead agency to ensure peaceful and orderly elections.
• The Armed Forces of the Philippines would only be limited to serious armed threats.
• The National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology were also deputized by the COMELEC for the forthcoming elections.
• Soldiers are prohibited from serving as security escorts for candidates, board of election tellers and COMELEC officers, and are not allowed to handle election paraphernalia.
• The PNP is tasked to provide security to election officers, polling precincts and voters, and to ensure strict implementation of the gun and liquor bans.

James Mananghaya told that :

“Areas with serious armed threats are those that have the presence of paramilitary forces, private armies or identifiable armed bands widely perceived to have committed or is committing terrorism, fraud, or other election irregularities, and threaten or tend to disrupt the holding of free, orderly and honest elections in any political subdivision or unit or any part thereof,” said the COMELEC resolution. 

Lets just hope that the SK Election will be a successful event in the Philippine Politics

Source : abs-cbnnews.com