Army rangers deploy to Basilan for May elections

A hundred Army troops trained in ranger-style maneuvers arrived in Basilan on Sunday, April 20, to support the Commission on Elections' security efforts for the May 2025 elections.

Brigadier General Alvin Luzon confirmed that the troops belong to the 113th Division Reconnaissance Company of the 11th Infantry Division based in Sulu and are part of a broader effort by the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) and Joint Task Force Orion to secure election integrity.

The deployment is focused on bolstering security measures in Basilan, which includes 11 areas identified as potential hotspots for election-related concerns by Comelec, with Al-Barka designated as a red-category area indicating the highest level of concern.

Local officials welcomed the military reinforcements, emphasizing their commitment to peaceful elections and highlighting past issues that need to be prevented during the upcoming polls.

Col. Freddie Luzon held an election security dialogue in Isabela City on April 19, discussing preparations for potential threats and past incidents with senior military officers.