Military says 2019 elections peaceful and successful

May 13, 2019

Despite explosions and other election-related incidents, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) declared that the conduct of 2019 mid-term polls is peaceful and successful.

“The AFP congratulates the Filipino people for the successful conduct of the National and Local Elections 2019 and their peaceful exercise of their right to choose our leaders who will continue to plot the future of our country,” said Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP Public Affairs Chief, Monday.

"The places where we expected to be marred with violence did not materialize. The conduct of the national and local elections is generally peaceful compared to the one that we are expecting that there will widespread violence but it did not happen," he added.

Detoyato said "very minimal breach of peace and order (was) monitored and reported from all over the country."

“Their last-minute attempts to disrupt the conduct of elections but these were immediately addressed by our security forces,” he said.

Detoyato attributed the successful conduct of election to the preparations by concerned government agencies.

“The months of preparations through coordination’s and conferences by the PNP, AFP and the Comelec have been effective in ensuring that the Filipino people can exercise their right to vote free from intimidation, threats, and harassment,” he said.

“Our joint election security efforts will remain to protect the transfer of election paraphernalia to the canvassing centers,” he noted.

“We hope for everyone's continued cooperation and vigilance in protecting our votes as we continue on with the canvassing in the coming days,” he added. Robina Asido/DMS