BACOLOD CITY, (PNA) — The top official of the Philippine Army in Western Visayas reminded soldiers here not to take sides during the October 28 barangay elections.
Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said the military should be non-partisan as he stressed that voting is the highest form of expression in a democracy.
“Our participation during the elections is first to vote and second to ensure that those who will be voting are safe and free from influence or pressure from others,” he said.
Baladad said that based on their monitoring, there are two types of candidates – first, are the candidates influenced by the New People’s Army and second, are those victimized by the extortion of the rebels.
“This is the style of the rebels – using democracy to destroy democracy,” he added.
Baladad further appealed: “I call on our Filipino voters to vote wisely. Those we vote for should be for our democracy.”