CAMP SANG-AN, Zamboanga del Sur — April 21, 2025 — Determined to ensure the May 12 national and local elections remain safe, peaceful, and credible, the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division has mobilized the Tabak Provisional Battalion in a decisive move to shield the electoral process from violence, intimidation, and fraud.
In a solemn yet forceful send-off ceremony at the Division Grandstand, the battalion—specially organized for election security—was formally deployed to some of the most volatile and historically contested areas in Western Mindanao, with Lanao del Sur front and center.
Major General Yegor Rey P. Barroquillo Jr., Commander of the 1ID, delivered a powerful message to the troops, leaving no room for ambiguity about the gravity of their mission. “This is not just about maintaining order—it is about defending the very core of our democracy,” Barroquillo declared. “Your strength must be guided by discipline. Your courage must be anchored in integrity. Failure is not an option—not in Lanao, not anywhere.”
The Commander underscored that the battalion’s presence on the ground is more than just a show of force—it is a direct assertion of the military’s commitment to uphold the sanctity of the ballot and the sovereign will of the Filipino people.
“You are not merely soldiers in uniform—you are the frontline guardians of democracy,” Barroquillo asserted. “The country is watching, and history will judge us by the integrity we show in this mission.”
The deployment forms part of a broader, tightly-coordinated effort between the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Commission on Elections, and the Philippine National Police, aimed at crushing any attempts at electoral sabotage, political violence, or voter coercion before they take root.
The activation of the Tabak Provisional Battalion signals the military’s unyielding resolve to protect the electoral process, especially in areas prone to lawlessness and political strife. It also reinforces the Western Mindanao Command’s steadfast commitment to secure every Filipino’s right to vote free from fear, manipulation, and fraud.
As election day approaches, the message from Camp Sang-an is unmistakable: the Armed Forces will stand as an unbreakable wall against any threat to democracy—ready, resolute, and relentless.