Bicol: The 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (PA-9ID) on Thursday pledged its commitment to upholding the Constitution and that it will continue serving President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

According to Philippines News Agency, Major Frank Roldan, chief of the 9th ID public affairs office, stated that the armed forces remain professional and are bound to follow the chain of command. "Our soldiers have sworn to uphold the Constitution, which means that all our actions are anchored in the rule of law. We will follow whoever is the sitting president as mandated by law," said Roldan.

He dismissed rumors of destabilization, emphasizing that the organization remains professional and disciplined. "There is no destabilization within our ranks. The Philippine Army is steadfast in its commitment to duty and will not contribute to the challenges currently facing the country," he added. Roldan also reiterated that their loyalty has always been to the Constitution and that they have served past administrations with the same dedication.

As the midterm elections approach, Roldan mentioned that the division is preparing by mobilizing military personnel to ensure peaceful and orderly elections. "Since the start of the election period, we have continuously deployed our personnel. We are coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec), carefully planning every step of our operations," Roldan explained.

He added that all units are now in election security mode, with each battalion consisting of approximately 500 personnel. "In the Bicol Region, eight battalions fall under their jurisdiction and are ready to be deployed for the elections. Our infantry battalions are distributed across all provinces in the Bicol Region," Roldan said.

Furthermore, he stated that they are prepared to deploy additional forces to areas with a history of intense political rivalry, violence, or the presence of armed groups. He assured that additional troops are on standby should the need arise. "If more personnel are required, the 9th Infantry Division is ready to deploy; we have troops stationed at our headquarters who are prepared for immediate deployment," Roldan added.