Metro not a poll hotspot

MANILA, Philippines - The entire Metro Manila is not among the areas considered as hotspots during the coming May 2010 national and local elections, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said most officials and candidates in the metropolis are seen as “civilized” and would not likely resort to violence to attain their political objectives.

PNP records said many election-related violent incidents that transpired in Metro Manila in the past were not perpetrated by politicians based in the region but were “merely imported by warring political clans” from the provinces.

This includes the murder of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin in Quezon City on Dec. 16, 2006 and the assassination of Masbate Rep. Luisito Espinosa in the vicinity of the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City, among others.

Aside from Abra, PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said six other provinces nationwide are being closely monitored by the PNP as traditional hotspots. They were Nueva Ecija, Masbate, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Sulu.

Verzosa said the PNP, through the Directorate for Intelligence, will soon release the lists of hotspots for the 2010 elections.