PPCRV urges PNP, AFP to double efforts vs. private armies

A parish-based electoral watchdog is urging the police and military to double their efforts to ensure the safety of voters and volunteers amid the "alarming" number of areas in the country that are being considered as election hot spots.

"Dahil sa dumami yung mga hot spot, ibig sabihin, dumami yung mga nananakot.  Dumami 'yung mga 'guns, goons and gold'," Parish Pastoral Council For Responsible Voting (PPCRV)  chairperson emeritus Tita de Villa said Wednesday in an interview on GMA News TV's Balitanghali.

"May impluwensiya 'yun sa eleksyon -- sa turnout at saka sa resulta," De Villa warned.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has deputized the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to ensure the orderly and peaceful conduct of the May 2019 midterm elections.

According to De Villa, "Talagang kailangan mag-double time ang PNP at ang AFP to identify 'yung mga private armies at talagang kailangan din na mas higpitan ng Comelec yung gun ban."

"Kailangan talagang magtulungan ang law enforcement na talagang gone after the political, and private armies and to give arned people para yung gunban ay talagang pagtuunan ng pansin," she added.

Recalling that a former PPCRV coordinator was gunned down in the 2016 elections, De Villa expressed hope that security forces would be able to protect both voters and volunteers from armed individuals.

"Huwag na sanang maulit yung ganon," she said. — Margaret Claire Layug/RSJ, GMA News