West Mindanao polls peaceful – Army

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AUGMENTATION ground troops that were mobilized to fortify security measures in politically volatile areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have returned to their respective barracks after the midterm elections in Mindanao.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman Col. J-Jay Javines said on Thursday that the additional troops deployed in key areas of BARMM prior to May 12 polls were sent to various joint task forces following the conduct of security operations during the national and local elections.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete is seriously evaluating the operational aspects of the security operations the security contingent had employed in a known critical domain within BARMM in preparation for the parliamentary polls in October.

Violence erupted in known hot spot areas in Mindanao during the early stage of the elections, but failed to induce havoc due to troops' vigilance and alertness.

"The results of the After Automatic Review will position Westmincom more strongly to prepare for the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections and future electoral exercises," Javines said.

He said the lessons learned and operational insights gained are expected to further enhance the command's readiness in securing the democratic process.

Nafarrete led the ceremonial send-off to Joint Task Force Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao (JTF Zampelan) and Joint Task Force Central (JTF Central), following the successful conduct of security operations during the just-concluded elections.

Maj. Gen. Yegor Rey Baroquillo Jr., commander of the 1st Infantry Division (1ID) and JTF ZamPeLan, and Maj. Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the 6ID and JTF Central, were also present during the send-off ceremonies.

Both commanders briefed Nafarrete on the outcomes of the elections in their respective areas of responsibility (AORs).

The send-off ceremony for the augmented forces assigned to JTF Zampelan took place at Kampo Ranao, Marawi City, Lanao del Norte, while the ceremony for those deployed to JTF Central was held at the 6th Division Training School (6DTS), Barangay Semba, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.

The troops sent to JTF Zampelan include the 23rd Division Reconnaissance Company (23rd DRC) of the 2ID, 72nd DRC of the 7ID, 101st DRC of the 10ID, and 104th DRC of the 101ID.

Meanwhile, forces deployed to JTF Central comprise the 48th Infantry Battalion (48IB) of the 10ID, a Composite Armor Company, the 2nd Cavalry Company, the 4th Cavalry Company of the Armor Division, and the 53rd DRC of the 5ID.

Javines said that in recognition of the invaluable services rendered by the troops, which resulted in the successful conduct of the elections, the augmented troops were awarded the Military Merit Medal during the send-off ceremonies.

During the ceremonies, Nafarrete lauded the troops for their professionalism and unwavering commitment to duty.

"Your deployment demonstrates not only tactical excellence but also a deep commitment to the constitutional mandate of the Armed Forces to protect the people and uphold the integrity of our democratic institutions," he said.

"Let me commend each and every one of you — from the team leaders to the youngest troopers — for showing what it means to be defenders not just of our land, but of our people's right to choose their leaders freely," he said.

Nafarrete also conducted a comprehensive After Activity Review to assess the effectiveness of its operational plans during the election.

Despite the occurrence of election-related violent incidents, the 2025 NLE within Westmincom's AOR was generally peaceful, with no incidents of election failure declared, even in previously sensitive and high-risk areas.

Nafarrete emphasized that the success of the 2025 elections reflects the maturity of the Armed Forces' operational strategies and enhanced inter-agency collaboration.

"Building upon the lessons and experiences of previous elections, particularly in mitigating security challenges, we have successfully conducted this year's polls without any declared 'failure of elections' across our area of responsibility, even in historically sensitive locations," he said.

"The success is also a testament to Westmincom's commitment to meticulous planning, the use of historical data to anticipate and manage election-related dynamics, and the seamless inter-agency coordination that enabled a secure environment for voters to exercise their right to suffrage," said Nafarrete.

The Westmincom undertook extensive preparations to ensure the success of the electoral process. The efforts included the inspection of voting precincts in election hot spot areas, the activation of the Election Monitoring Action Center (EMAC) to track real-time developments, participation in the Government of the Philippines – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPH-MILF) Peace Covenant signing and continuous improvement of operational plans through series of review, assessment and contingency planning sessions, among others.