Spike expected in use of improvised explosive devices during elections

Despite security preparations to ensure a safe election, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) still sees a spike in the use of improvised explosive devices (IED) that may be used not only against government security forces but also against politicians, reports Manila Times. Army commanding general Lt Gen. Noel Coballes expressed his apprehension to US Army officials during his recent visit to the Asia Pacific Counter ID Fusion Centre (APCFC) at Bellows Airfiled, Hawaii. “Every election cycle sees a spike in IED activity and this year will be no different. We have a mandate to protect all Filipinos. We might see an increase in IED explosions—it could be targeting our own soldiers, but in my opinion they will be targeting politicians,” Coballes said in an article published on the official homepage of the US Army. It said Coballes visited the US Army Pacific forces on February 3 to 9 as a guest of Lt Gen Francis Wiercinski, commanding general of the US Army Pacific. The APCFC is the executive agency of the US Pacific Command for all counter IED intelligence gathering and training. Its primary mission is to prepare US forces for overseas contingency operations. The centre has also trained more than 2,000 soldiers from 11 partner nations including the Philippines. Coballes confirmed that he went to Hawaii but denied the statement attributed to him by the US army website.