WV on PNP’s radar for presence of armed groups ahead of BSKE

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified Western Visayas as one of the regions being monitored for active and potential private armed groups (PAGs) that may mobilize on the days leading to the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) this October.

PNP chief General Benjamin Acorda said 48 PAGs are under its surveillance in Western Visayas, Central Luzon, Bicol, Caraga, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“The PNP is also monitoring continuously the activities of 48 PAGs wherein three of these groups are active and 45 potential PAGs,” he said in a press conference on Monday.

Acorda said he has directed concerned regional directors to intensify efforts against PAGs to ensure that these armed groups will not be used for illegal activities during elections.

He also mentioned that the PNP has received reports regarding security threats faced by elected government officials and potential candidates prior to the elections.

Acorda added that appropriate measures are being taken to ensure the safety of these individuals.

“We are taking all the measures na kaya naming gawin just to really carry yung appropriate security and to avoid any further attacks or violence against these persons that are reporting yung risk of their life,” he added.

The PNP added that it is collaborating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Commission on Elections to conduct an evaluation of the situation.

Earlier, the PNP also reported that Western Visayas had the most number of barangays officials in the country’s drug watchlist, something that surprised even the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6.

But it appeared that the data was taken from record way back in 2016 when the PNP kicked off its Oplan Tokhang or the campaign of the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte to convince alleged drug peddlers to surrender and reform.

Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, Western Visayas police chief, said the barangay officials on the list were either arrested or surrendered in the past administration.

That list became the basis for PNP chief General Benjamin Acorda’s revelation that Western Visayas has the highest number of barangay officials with links to the illegal drug trade.

But Villaflor said they already rectified and corrected the list to avoid possible misinterpretation.

Still, the region’s top cop said that barangay officials who previously surrendered will be monitored if they either underwent rehabilitation or still have connections to the illegal drug trade.

Meanwhile, Major Mary Grace Borio, PRO-6 spokesperson, said that they have yet to come up with an updated watchlist.

“We were also surprised about the number. We already coordinated with Camp Crame about it,” she said.

It appeared that even the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) might have no updated list of village officials with illegal drug links, as it also asked PRO-6 about the list.

It can be noted that there are 430 barangay officials who are on the PNP’s watchlist of illegal drug personalities.

The 76 officials from Western Visayas included both high-value and street-level individuals.