101^st Bde holds security meeting

By Alfonso T. Ruda

PIÑAN, Zamboanga del Norte, Jan. 29 (PIA) – To ensure orderly and peaceful conduct of the May 9, 2016 national and local elections in its area of jurisdiction, the 101^st Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army, based in Barangay Del Pilar in this municipality has called on Monday a joint security control meeting with personnel from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) from region 9 and 10 as well as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and military units from the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Misamis Occidental.

Municipal Election Officers from the different towns of Zamboanga del Norte also came to attend the said meeting.

Atty. Wilfred Jay Balisado, COMELEC-9 regional director appealed to the public to respect the checkpoints established along the national highways by the COMELEC.

He also called on the candidates to campaign professionally, as he urged the voters to use their best judgement this coming election to elect the most credible and qualified person for the position.

It was suggested in the meeting that certain activities would be undertaken to drum up support for peaceful and credible elections like forging a peace covenant between and among opposing candidates to be facilitated by any religious organizations and/or any non-partisan organization.

For his part, Col.Jesus Manangquil Jr., 101^st brigade commander, assured the public of the availability and  presence of the military units under his command to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the May 9, 2016 balloting.

Managquil said the said meeting was just one of the many meetings to be initiated by the brigade with the various stakeholders to keep the public abreast with the military’s efforts at making the national and ocal elections peaceful and credible.