12 towns, 1 city in Samar declared ‘areas of concern’

TACLOBAN CITY – The regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) here declared 12 Samar towns and one city as immediate areas of concern not because of intense political rivalry but due to the presence of New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas and of partisan armed groups.

PNP regional director Chief Superintendent Eliseo Dela Paz, the municipalities of Jiabong, Motiong, Sta. Rita, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, Gandara, San Jorge, Matuguinao, Paranas, Basey, Villareal, Tarangnan and Calbayog City were among the latest to have been declared as election hot spots or immediate areas of concern.

Because of the PNP’s intensified campaign against loose firearms all over the region, Dela Paz said they have so far confiscated 32 loose firearms in checkpoints across the six provinces and those caught have been charged in court.

He admitted that there were a series of killings in Samar during the first two months of the campaign period and some election-related violence have also been recorded, but these were immediately solved because of the deployment of troops.

"The deployment of additional troops in Samar has really improved peace and order and helped stop killing incidents," Dela Paz added.

The PNP regional leadership encourages the signing of peace covenants among candidates in provinces and municipalities.On Saturday, local candidates in Tacloban signed a peace covenant. Biliran province will follow this week.