13 partisan armed groups in Ilocos closely watched

MANILA, Philippines - Police are closely monitoring the activities of politicians in the Ilocos region in a move to dismantle 13 partisan armed groups there before the May elections.

Chief Superintendent Constante Azares, regional police director, has formed Special Task Groups to neutralize private armies to prevent a rise in election-related violent incidents in his area of jurisdiction.

The Ilocos region has had four such incidents in the past few months and Azares said they are consolidating efforts to prevent violence from escalating further.

“We have filed charges and have been working for the solution of other violent incidents in our turf. And my men have dedicated teams to prevent the (partisan armed groups) in our area from conducting harassment and other forms of violence against supporters of rival candidates,” Azares told The STAR.

He refused to identify the politicians listed by the Directorate of Intelligence in Camp Crame as maintaining private armies, saying they are still validating intelligence reports.

“My men are still in the field validating the intelligence reports. Those maintaining (armed groups) are all politicians and we are making sure their movements would be curtailed before and after the May elections,” he said.

Azares said his command has neutralized five suspected members of partisan armed groups, three of whom he identified as Armando Flores and Nicolas Laroya, both from Pangasinan, and Alvin Uniag from Naguilian, La Union. – Non Alquitran