Authorities monitor presence of armed group in Cebu

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), along with the police and armed forces, is on the lookout for criminal elements in Cebu who may be hired to cause trouble during the coming national elections.

Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec Cebu provincial election supervisor, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is monitoring and verifying the presence of criminal elements in the province.

“The PNP has not yet identified private armed groups in Cebu, but they are looking at the possibility of criminal elements that may become so and be used during the polls,” he said.

Last Monday, representatives from the Comelec, army, and police from Central Visayas met for the first time to discuss plans and protocols during election season.

Castillano said among the things PNP presented is their desire to “neutralize” criminal elements before they can be taken advantage of in the polls.

Aside from this, he added that the PNP is also trying to prevent the entry of private armed groups from Mindanao and other places into the province of Cebu.

“Based on our experience, these groups come three days or one week before the election and then they’re gone after. This is what the PNP is trying to prevent,” said Castillano.

Furthermore, the PNP is also pushing for the signing of peace covenants in areas where political rivalry is intense.

Castillano said the Comelec and PNP will ask to meet bickering candidates and mediate.

“We just have to be honest with them. We will convince them to sign a covenant to make sure the coming polls are clean,” he said.

The Comelec has not yet finalized the list of areas where high police visibility and security will be required, he added.