PNP wants Masbate put under Comelec control

The Philippine National Police has asked the Commission on Elections to put Masbate under the poll body's control due to intense political rivalry and other factors in the province, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao said Thursday.

Bulalacao said Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol Region) Chief Superintendent Antonio Gardiola Jr. has already requested the Comelec regarding the matter.

"We have yet to receive thee approval by the Comelec on this request," he said.

Asked why the PNP wants Masbate to be placed under Comelec control, Bulalacao explained that it is due to the presence of all parameters set by the PNP which include: intense political rivalry, presence of armed groups, activities of criminal gangs, proliferation of loose firearms, activities of threat groups and history of election-related violence.

Based on the National Election Monitoring Action Center, the PNP has so far arrested 546 people during the election period from April 14 to April 25.

Of this number, 46 were arrested in checkpoints, 270 in police patrol/response, 102 during application of search warrants, 18 during implementation of warrants of arrest, 65 buy-bust with deadly weapons, four in armed encounter, 15 in Oplan Sita, 16 in Oplan Galugad and 10 in Oplan Bakal.

Most of the arrested persons were civilian (504) while only two police personnel were arrested in the focused operations.

A total of 403 firearms were either confiscated, seized, recovered or surrendered while 2,712 other deadly weapons were also seized. — Marlly Rome Bondoc/RSJ, GMA News