PNP monitoring 49 private armed groups ahead of BSKE

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is monitoring 49 private armed groups (PAG) ahead of the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in October.

“The number of potential PAGs increased, since this data is very dynamic based on our monitoring and information-gathering,” PNP Public Information Office chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan told reporters in Filipino yesterday.

Maranan said there are three active PAGs in the country.

They are also investigating if former Maimbung, Sulu vice mayor Pando Mudjasan’s group is among them.

Mudjasan’s armed group had an encounter with the PNP’s Special Action Force over the weekend, resulting in one casualty and several wounded.

“The incidents in this area of Mindanao will not affect the resolve of the PNP to continue going after and destroying the PAGs or groups that may incite violence any time, especially with the elections coming,” he said.

In the Bangsamoro area, Maranan said there are 37 potential PAGs.

“With the more than 40 PAGs we are monitoring, majority of them are here in the (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region). This is why we will really focus on this,” he added.

The election period of BSKE runs from Aug. 28 to Nov. 29. Deadline for filing certificates of candidacy is on Sept. 2.

The campaign period starts on Oct. 19-28. Election day is on Oct. 30.

Voters’ list

Meanwhile, a clean copy of the certified voters’ list for the BSKE will be released early August, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“Candidates or political parties or citizens’ arm could secure a copy of the complete voters’ list from the local Comelec office so they could check if the lists are accurate,” Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said in a recent interview over radio dzBB.

Comelec earlier discovered 491,017 Filipinos who registered multiple times during the voter registration that ended in January.

As of June 23, the Special Election Registration Board deleted 25,440 voter registration records nationwide.

Charges will be filed against 7,000 multiple registrants for violating the Voter’s Registration Act.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, for his part, yesterday told voters to elect honest and sincere village leaders in the BSKE.

“Be serious about the election. We really discern and pray over and select those we think can give really honest, sincere and effective service to the community,” Palma said over Radio Veritas.

“For people who have the sincere desire to serve, I would encourage, ‘Go on!’ Tell the world you want to serve. And be truly sincere once elected,” he added. — Evelyn Macairan