The commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division credited the meticulously planned security operation for the relatively peaceful elections across Central Mindanao, despite several violent incidents in the Maguindanao provinces.
Maj. Gen. Donald Gumiran, who also heads Joint Task Force Central, reported Wednesday that the deployment of 3,000 military personnel working closely with police forces successfully contained election-related violence, though not without challenges.
The security situation saw a municipal candidate killed in Shariff Aguak and two soldiers wounded in Pandag town, along with three separate explosions reported in Datu Piang, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, and Cotabato City that left one civilian slightly injured.
Voting delays of about five hours occurred in Datu Odin Sinsuat due to tensions over electoral board compositions, though Gumiran emphasized that military personnel demonstrated restraint in managing the situation.
“With professionalism and composure, the situation was controlled, and the voting started,” Gumiran said.
Security forces achieved several operational successes, he said, citing the arrest of eight armed suspects in Pandag and Datu Abdullah Sangki, the recovery of multiple high-powered firearms, and the apprehension of four alleged gun-for-hire operatives in Buluan.
Military checkpoints remained operational in former hotspot areas even after polls closed to ensure continued stability during the vote-counting process. (PNA)
