MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will deploy much of its forces in areas considered as election hot spots as security officials anticipate intense rivalries for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on October 25, military and police officials said.

Out of the total of 42,025 barangays where the elections will be held, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has so far listed some 2,300 barangays where poll-related violent incidents would likely spark.

And it is in these hot spot barangays where most of the soldiers will be dispatched as peacekeepers as part of a major strategy to make up with the limited number of police and military forces, said Lieutenant General Ricardo David, AFP chief of staff.

David explained that such strategy is important in order to maximize the implementation of security measures as both the military and the police try to duplicate their success during the May 10 elections which is considered as one of the most peaceful in the history of Philippine elections.