SAFE AND CLEAN POLLS. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, Gen. Jose C. Faustino Jr. reminds the troops of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) to ensure a safe and clean national and local polls in 2022 during his visit on Wednesday (Oct. 27, 2021) in Davao City. Faustino also lauded the Eastmincom for setting the military standard in combatting communist insurgency in the country. (Photo courtesy of Eastmincom) DAVAO CITY - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is reminding the troops to do their best in ensuring a safe and clean national and local elections in 2022, an official from the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) said Thursday. In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, Eastmincom spokesperson Maj. Alex Mindalano said AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Jose C. Faustino Jr., during his visit at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Barangay Panacan here on Wednesday, emphasized the military's role to safeguard the elections. Mindalano said the guidance given by Faustino aligns with the mandate of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that all AFP personnel should remain non-partisan. Lorenzana emphasized that soldiers are not allowed to campaign for nor show support for anybody in the elections, and instead should focus on their duty to protect the public and the state. "There will be an incoming election. Let us do our job wholeheartedly to further protect the people and our territories," Faustino said. Faustino also lauded the Eastmincom for setting the military standard in combatting communist insurgency in the country. He underscored that Eastmincom troops played a vital role in helping the AFP earn the highest approval rating among government agencies in the country, citing the result of the latest non-commissioned survey conducted by independent pollster PUBLicus Asia, Inc. where the AFP got a 67-percent approval rating. "I commend Eastmincom commander Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol for maintaining the command's tradition of excellence, as I had personally witnessed how he strived to further improve Eastmincom's operations," Faustino said. He added that nothing compares to Eastmincom's accomplishments. "Eastmincom is being looked up to because of its best practices. It has become the standard on how to fight the insurgents," Faustino said. (PNA) }