50 Calabarzon barangays on poll watchlist

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — At least 50 barangays in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) have been declared areas of concern in connection with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, Calabarzon police director, said Quezon and Cavite each have 16 barangays on the election watchlist; Batangas, 14; Rizal, 3, and Laguna, 1.

Eleazar said they are validating the certificates of candidacy to determine other areas to be included on the watchlist.

He said barangay captains Leonilo Arbonida of Bagtas, Tanza, Cavite and Domingo Concha of Tambug, Malunay, Quezon as well as councilman Felix Arias of Anato, Calumpang, Quezon were killed in the period from April 15 to 28.

At least 84 persons were arrested for violation of the gun ban while 77 guns, two grenades, various types of ammunition, two replica guns and seven bladed weapons were confiscated during the same period.

Eleazar said election areas of concern are those where there is intense rivalry among candidates, presence of private armed groups and proliferation of loose firearms.

He ordered police chiefs in the region to intensify checkpoint operations and other measures to secure villages on the poll watchlist.

There are 8,530 candidates for barangay captain and 61,331 for barangay council in Calabarzon.