President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (File photo)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the military to ensure peace and security nationwide as the country enters the final stretch of the 2025 midterm election season.
Speaking before soldiers of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) at Camp BGen. Gonzalo H. Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Friday, Marcos underscored the importance of heightened military visibility during the election period.
“As campaigning ramps up for the May 12 midterm elections, we must maintain a strong and steady presence to safeguard the democratic process,” the President said, according to a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
Marcos noted the significant reduction in election-related threat areas—from 38 to 36—as recently reported by the Commission on Elections, and praised the ongoing transition of internal security responsibilities from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“I am pleased to report that we are now in the process of shifting internal security duties from the AFP to the PNP, a clear sign of progress,” he said.
The President commended the 6ID for its role in restoring peace in Mindanao and for supporting the reintegration of former rebels into society. He said these gains were made possible through sustained peacebuilding efforts and cooperation on the ground.
During his visit, more than 1,000 firearms—including small arms and light weapons—surrendered, confiscated, or captured between 2024 and April 10, 2025, were presented to the Commander-in-Chief.
Marcos expressed confidence in the PNP’s capability to manage the remaining pockets of insurgency, noting that communist rebels are now significantly weakened.
According to the National Security Council, the New People’s Army (NPA) is down to a single, diminished guerrilla front and is now “leaderless”—a development expected to culminate in its full dismantling before the end of the year.
The Philippine Army has also affirmed that communist insurgents no longer have the capacity to disrupt or influence the upcoming elections.