Three potential armed gangs in WV under PNP monitoring

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Authorities are monitoring three possible private armed groups (PAGs) in Western Visayas.

In a report presented by the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 during the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting at Negros Residences here yesterday, these potential PAGs are believed to be in three areas of Negros Occidental.

But Police Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, acting director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, could not elaborate further.

“I’m not categorically saying na meron pero imomonitor pa lang namin,” Villaflor said in a media interview.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson welcomed the said development.

“What’s important is na identify and monitor nila (potential PAGs),” Lacson said, adding that the police force is just extra careful, especially with the incident in the oriental side that killed late Governor Roel Degamo.

After that incident, Villaflor said that all the police commanders down to police chiefs were directed by the national headquarters to communicate with their local chief executives and barangay officials to determine if they have threats.

Barangay election

When asked if they could consider the previous record in declaring this year’s barangay election hot spots or watchlist areas, Villaflor said that it’s possible but they will primarily dwell on the current record because it will be off balance if they will use the old record as basis.

Villaflor said they are waiting for the updated policies from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) so that they can have a detailed plan to adapt to it.

“Mahirap magsabi kung anong gagawin namin. We must dwell on the policies,” he added.

Villaflor said they are also making their most effort to prevent the New People’s Army (NPA) from harming the barangay elections. Although, he said that they could not directly correlate the actions of the NPA to the elections.

“On our level, gagawin namin ang lahat para hindi magkaroon ng ganun,” he added.

Villaflor assured the Negrenses that there will be additional policemen on the ground.

“Aside from administrative work, policemen will also perform operational jobs that entail the conduct of checkpoint, beat patrol, mobile patrol, motorcycle patrol, foot patrol, barangay visitation, and other police activities that entail police visibility,” Villaflor said.