AFP ready for poll mission

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is making available its land, sea, and air assets to help the Commission on Elections (Comelec) transport vote-counting machines (VCMs) and other paraphernalia to be used in the coming May 9 national and local elections. “We take orders from them (Comelec) as long as it is election and security-related movement,” Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs office (PAO) chief, said. “We will not do it on our own, (these missions) are always done with the presence of Comelec (representatives),” said Detoyato, adding that this is part of their role as deputized agency of the Comelec. Detoyato said that the military is currently helping in the delivery of VCMs and other paraphernalia, particularly in far-flung areas not served by commercial and logistics companies. He, however, emphasized that Comelec representatives are usually present in these missions that started late April. The AFP-PAO chief went on [...]