The Philippine National Police is monitoring three potential private armed groups in Negros Occidental as the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) near.
This was disclosed in a PNP report on the peace and order situation in preparation for the BSKE during the 2nd quarter Regional Peace and Order Council meeting chaired by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City Wednesday morning, June 14.
PBrig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor, PNP Western Visayas regional director, said “technically” there are still no private armed groups (PAGs) in Negros.
“But we will monitory the potential PAGs”, he said.
Lacson said what is important is that the PNP identifies the PAGs and monitor them.
They are just extra careful following the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, Lacson said.
Villaflor said he has been personally visiting police stations in Western Visayas so he will know what is happening on the ground.
“One of my efforts is to add more policemen on the ground not only doing administrative jobs, they must perform operational jobs that entail the conduct of checkpoints, mobile patrols, barangay visitations… and other activities that entail police visibility,” he said.
The Police and Army are also waiting for the updated Commission on Elections (Comelec) policy for determining election watchlist areas in Western Visayas.
There were 37 towns and cities on the Western Visayas election watchlist in the previous election, 17 of which were in Negros Occidental.
Villaflor said they will not rely on the previous list, they will come up with a current list.
The PNP report said the general peace and order situation in Western Visayas remains stable and manageable.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army is calling on candidates in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) elections not to pay the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army rebels for permits to campaign.
They expect the rebels to again be distributing permits to campaign and win during the election period, Col. Orlando D. Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said.
He also called on residents not to vote for candidates who support the CPP-NPA. “As long as there are those who support them they will thrive and continue to destroy the image of Negros,” he said.*