Authorities now evaluating possible election areas of concerns — PNP

Authorities are now assessing possible areas of concerns ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in October, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.

At a televised public briefing, PNP public information office chief Police Brigadier General Redrico Maranan said they are conducting the evaluation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“Yan pa sa ngayong ang ating pinag-aaralan at tinitignan nating yung mga data. Binabalikan natin yung previous barangay, SK elections na naganap,” he said when asked about the election areas of concern.

(That’s what we are studying now and we are looking at the data. We are reviewing the conduct of the previous Barangay and SK elections.)

“Sisilipin natin yung historical data. Yan ang ginagawa natin ngayon nagva-validate tayo, nag-iimbestiga tayo. Kinokompare natin lahat ng detalye,” he added.

(We will look at historical data. We are validating and investigating. We are comparing details.)

When the process is done, Maranan said the Comelec will release the list of election areas of concerns for the 2023 BSKE.

Aside from determining areas of concern, Maranan said the PNP has been working on operations to make sure that the conduct of elections would be peaceful.

On Monday, PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said 10,971 loose firearms were recovered, surrendered, and confiscated firearms from 3,435 arrested persons since January 1.

A total of 6,221 firearms were also received by PNP units for safekeeping, he added.

The PNP also keeps on monitoring three active private armed groups (PAGs) and 45 potential PAGs who may engage in illegal activities in connection with the elections.

Earlier, the Comelec, through its spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco, said they are now 100% ready for the elections.

Laudiangco said almost 92 million ballots to be used for the elections have already been printed as of May 10. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News