Army troops conducts caravan for SAFE 2013

By 20th Infantry Battalion, 8ID PA
May 8, 2013

BRGY. MAGSAYSAY, Lope de Vega, Northern Samar – The troops of the 20th Infantry (We Lead) Battalion, 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army conducted a caravan for Secured and Fare 2013 Election (SAFE 2013) last 07 May 2013 in the areas of the 1st District of Northern Samar.

LTC Noel Vestuir, 20IB’s Commanding officer in his press statement, stated that: “the purpose of the caravan is to encourage the populace to exercise their right of suffrage, go out and vote this coming May 13, 2013 elections.

According to Vestuir, his troops are now ready to provide security assistance to ensure that the conduct of election, as well as the final testing and sealing (FTS) of PCOs machines are secured. As earlier reported armed NPAs are intimidating the voters and forced them to vote their favored candidates. The armed NPAs are also threatening and harassing the candidates by enforcing their Election Access Fee (EAF) in the remote barangays. However, due to the sustained conduct of combat clearing operations, these threats have been preempted.

Through the said operations, a total of five (5) abandoned NPA camps has been discovered by 20IB troops in the hinterland barangays of San Isidro, Allen and Victoria all of Northern Samar starting March this year.

Vestuir said, “These camps are indeed clear indications of the NPA presence in the area and confirms the earlier reports that they are enforcing the EAF to local candidates and threatening the populace in the area. The discovery of the said encampments was made possible due to the information provided by the people themselves.”

The SAFE 2013 Caravan started from 20IB headquarters in Lope de Vega town, Catarman, Bobon, San Jose, Rosalio, Lavezares, Allen, Victoria, San Isidro all in the first district of Northern Samar Province down to Tinambacan and Oquendo districts of Calbayog City. The caravan followed the Catarman-Lope de Vega road otherwise known as the south road and Maharlika Highway from Catarman-Allen and Allen to Calbayog City.