Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner Jr. issued a stern warning, emphasizing that the military is ready to deploy its "full force" against those planning to destabilize next year’s elections.
Brawner made the statement during a speech at the Western Mindanao Command on Friday, which oversees the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as well as the Sibutu Channel, a critical waterway in the southern region.
Furthermore, Brawner directed the WestMinCom to prepare for the first parliamentary elections of BARMM, which will coincide with the local and midterm elections next year.
“I would like to take advantage of this time to warn all those who are thinking of destabilizing or putting disorder in next year’s election," Brawner said.
"I am warning you, huwag niyo na ituloy because if you do that, we will apply the full force of the military to prevent you from doing that," he added.
Following this, he issued an order to the new head of WestMinCom, Maj. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, to focus on territorial defense operations.
Under his predecessor, LtGen. William Gonzales, the number of local and communist terrorist groups in the WestMinCom area was reduced, and the Bantay Kalayaan strategy for maritime defense was implemented, particularly in the Sibutu Passage in Tawi-Tawi and Basilan.
