- GILBERT BAYORAN
Three potential private armed groups in Negros Occidental are being closely monitored by the Philippine National Police, in line with the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30.
P/Brig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor, acting regional police director of Western Visayas, however, downplayed the reports stressing that it was based on old data, which they are now validating.
In a security briefing during the 2nd quarter Regional Peace and Order Council meeting that was presided over by Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, P/Col. Gilbert Gorero, chief of the Regional Operational Plans Division of the Western Visayas police, said there is no active private armed group existing in Western Visayas, as of this time.
But Gorero said the three potential PAGS in Negros Occidental could be used by politicians for their vested interests during the BSKE.
“There is nothing to worry since the PNP is monitoring them closely,” he said.
In previous elections, one of the three potential private armed groups headed by a former rebel-leader was linked to murder incidents in northern Negros.
Asked on the existence of three potential private armed groups in Negros Occidental, Lacson said “what is important is that they have identified and are monitoring them”.
Lacson said the PNP is just “extra careful” in Negros Occidental to prevent a possible incident, like what had happened in Negros Oriental, apparently referring to the assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo on March 4.
Villaflor also clarified that the report of 37 election watchlist areas (EWAs) in Western Visayas, mentioned in the 2nd quarter Regional Peace and Order Council meeting in Bacolod City, was based on old records in previous elections.
Of the 37 EWAs, 17 are in Negros Occidental.
As to the EWAs, Villaflor said they are still waiting for an updated policy from the Commission on Elections so that they can have detailed plans.
Based on the results of threat evaluation conducted on elected government officials (EGOs) in Western Visayas, the Police Regional Office 6 said 26 EGOs, 16 of them in Negros Occidental, and two in Bacolod City, are allegedly under threat.
Of the 26 EGOs, 18 are considered high-risk, while eight are medium-risk.
“These were culled from our old records, which we are evaluating, if it is still the same as of this time,” Villaflor stressed./GB
