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Manila: Police and military will crank up security in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in southern Philippines ahead of the elections on August 11, a top official said here on Tuesday.
An additional nearly 12,600 personnel will be deployed on the field to ensure peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections, said Deputy Director General Emmanuel Carta of the Philippine National Police.
Extra security will be provided on the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, he said.
"The PNP will deploy 7,253 police personnel while the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be fielding 5,337 troops. The security forces will be in their posts five days before the scheduled elections," said Carta, who is also commander of the PNP's National Task Force ARMM Elections.
Security forces will make extra efforts to ensure the orderly conduct of the country's first fully automated elections.
On Tuesday, a coordinating conference was held in Camp Crame in suburban Quezon City which was attended by officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and security forces.
ARMM Regional Director Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao told the Comelec that so far there had been no election-related violence but there has been increased activity by Moro rebels.
With inputs from Rafael Juan
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