Acting Provincial Comelec Supervisor Wil Arceno yesterday warned candidates in Negros Occidental, who may enlist the services of partisan armed groups in the May 13 elections, that such act is prohibited by law.

Arceno, who presided over the joint conference of election officers, and PNP and Army officials in Negros Occidental yesterday, said themaintenance of partisan armed groups (PAGs) whether during the election period or not, is illegal.

An election offense, including intimidation of voters and violation of the Comelec gun ban, is punishable by one to six years imprisonment, without probation, he said.

The police is conducting round-the-clock surveillance of eight inactive partisan armed groups in Negros Occidental, that may be utilized by candidates in the election, provincial police caretaker Senior Supt. Celestino Guara said had earlier.

While he refused to identify the armed groups and their locations in the province, Guara said some of them were reportedly used by some politicians in previous elections.

If the PNP says partisan armed groups exist, there is no problem with us in the Comelec, Arceño said, adding, “ We rely for the security aspect of the election on the PNP and Philipine Army”.

Maj Gen Jose Mabanta, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said the list of partisan armed groups identified in Negros, whether active or inactive, should servedas a wake-up call, and a challenge to them.

Now that they are being closely monitored by authorities, the PAGs have to be very vigilant from now on, Mabanta said.

He, however, clarified that the Philippine Army will only support the PNP in its campaign to dismantle partisan armed groups.

Guara said they will not spare anyone from arrest, if they insist on carrying guns without the approval of the Comelec.

In previous elections, there were reports of police auxiliaries, employed by local government units, being armed by politicians in Negros Occidental.

Thirteen of the 32 towns and cities in Negros Occidental have been included in the Election Watchlist Areas of the PNP.

A town or city will be included in the EWAS, if there had been occurrences of election-related incidents in the last two preceding the elections, unresolved political rivalry among contending parties, employment of private armed groups, proliferation of loose firearms, presence of armed groups in rebel influenced barangays, and questionable practices that could lead to the commission of violent incidents.

Mabanta advised those candidates who may receive copies of Permit to Campaign forms from the New People’s Army, to immediately report it to the authorities.

We will treat the information with utmost confidentiality, he said.

While they are not allowed to secure candidates in campaign sorties, Mabanta said Army soldiers may provide area security if the need arises, if they campaign in areas perceived to be controlled by the NPA. *GPB

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