PNP braces for poll violence

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is bracing itself for a projected rise in poll violence with the start of the campaign period for local positions on March 26.

“By March to April, we might note an upsurge in untoward incidents. But with our intensified operations, baka wala na rin (perhaps there could be none),” said Director Eugene Martin, head of the PNP’s Directorate for Intelligence.

As of the latest count, there are 92 partisan armed groups operating nationwide, according to the directorate.

Of these groups, Martin said 25 are operating in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Outside of the ARMM, most partisan armed groups are found to be operating in Regions 5 (Bicol), 4-A (Calabarzon, comprising the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), and 1 (Ilocos region).

Martin said his directorate is particularly monitoring the situation in Masbate, Pangasinan, and Ilocos Sur.

Once a partisan armed group is verified in an area, Martin said the PNP immediately forms a special task group to run after it.

Alongside its watch on partisan armed groups, the Directorate for Intelligence is also monitoring the situation in 564 towns and cities classified as “election areas of concern.”

Martin said intensive police operations have resulted in the arrest of 20 identified members as well as 70 suspected members of partisan armed groups.

“We still need to verify if they are really members of partisan armed groups. Many of them were arrested at police checkpoints for illegal possession of firearms,” he said.

Meanwhile, Martin refused to divulge the names of politicians being linked to partisan armed groups in keeping with the PNP’s apolitical stand.

He, however, gave assurance that the PNP is closely investigating these politicians’ possible links with the armed groups.