AFP to lower alert level due to peaceful elections

May 14, 2019

Following the peaceful conduct of the mid-term elections. the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is expected to change its alert status, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

"To downgrade or to lift the red alert at this time depends on the need for it on account of the transport of election returns (in some cases) for canvassing," Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman said.

"With the relatively peaceful and successful conduct of the elections and the counting almost over, the Chief of AFP Operations will recommend to the Chief of Staff General Benjamin Madrigal Jr. the lowering or removal of the alert status within the day," he added.

Arevalo said the successful and peaceful conduct of election was made possible with the cooperation of the people with the government authorities.

"We attribute the success of the election to the peoples’ cooperation with AFP/PNP in observing security measures laid out for them; and likewise to the citizens’ active involvement in reporting unusual developments or movements in their localities," he said.

"Since the start, we have been expressing our confidence in peaceful, orderly, and credible elections owing not only to the tedious planning and execution but also to the round-the-clock observation in Election

Monitoring Action Centers at the various levels throughout the country," he said.

"Vigilance and anticipation enabled us to immediately act and counteract efforts, anticipated or unexpected, that may or tend to disrupt our planned peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections," he added.

Arevalo stressed the importance of martial law implementation in Mindanao for the success of the election.

"Meticulous planning and preparations seamlessly executed by government security forces and the Comelec and their commanding presence in the polling areas deterred possible New People's Army atrocities," he said.

"In Mindanao where there are a number of identified election areas of concern, Martial Law prevented serious breach of law and order especially by various private armed and threat groups," he added. Robina Asido/DMS