PNP to keep eye on private armies ahead of May 2019 elections

The Philippine National Police has intensified its operations against private armed groups (PAGs) as the 2019 mid-term elections draw near.

In a statement, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Monday said the agency was pushing to dismantle private armies and ensure that the upcoming elections would be clean and credible.

"Since early August we have intensified our campaign against gun for hire syndicates and Private Armed Groups (PAGs) resulting in the neutralization of 82 (30 listed; 52 not listed) gun-for-hire syndicate members and confiscation of 35 firearms of assorted caliber. We have likewise neutralized 47 PAG members (8 listed; 39 not listed) and confiscation of 19 firearms also of assorted caliber," Albayalde said.

Albayalde added that about 77 private armed groups, with 2,071 members believed to be equipped with 1,582 firearms, are operating mostly in the ARMM.

Focused intelligence operations and monitoring of activities are ongoing.

He also mentioned that PNP remains active in its probe on attacks that are allegedly linked to the upcoming elections.

"We have gained significant headway in the investigation of 18 separate incidents of politically-motivated attacks on incumbent elective officials with arrests made against suspects in 11 incidents and criminal charges filed against suspects in two other cases," Albayalde said.

In an effort to avoid partisan politics, the PNP has also implemented a "reshuffling" or limited reorganization and ressignment of its personnel, especially those who are related to poll candidates.

"The PNP assures judicious and impartial application of rules in the implementation of election laws, on the detail of security personnel to candidates, enforcement of the election gun-ban, and equal campaign opportunities," Albayalde said.

He also disclosed that PNP's election duty as a COMELEC-deputized agency, which entails upgrade of resources, is partly the reason why they requested for a higher budget for 2019. —NB, GMA News