The Philippine National Police yesterday said it is possible that members of five private armed groups existing in Western Visayas, who are now inactive, may be re-hired by some politicians in the 2013 elections.
Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, regional police director of Western Visayas, has therefore ordered the police intelligence community to closely monitor the five identified private armed groups.
Cruz said the groups have histories of being used as private armies in previous elections.
Although they arenow inactive, Cruz said theycould not be deleted from the watchlist of the PNP, as there is always a possibility that they will resurrect.
He, however, did not reveal where the five private armed groups are operating, although there are reports that an armed group, that had negotiated for peace with the government, had been used by some politicians in previous elections in Negros Occidental.
Cruz enjoined the public to support their campaign against private armed groups, stressing that all information relayed to them will be treated with confidentiality.
Inprevious elections, private armed groups were utilized by some political candidates to harass their rivals and their supporters in the election.*GPB back
to top
|