PNP: 4 active private armed groups monitored ahead of 2023 BSKE

Four active private armed groups (PAGs) have been monitored so far ahead of the conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) this month, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.

“We have monitored yung PAGs. There are four active, 38 potential PAGs as of September 29,” PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said at a press conference.

The PNP in May had identified seven regions where they monitored active and potential PAGs. These include Ilocos, Central Luzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Caraga, Cordillera, and Bangsamoro.

Acorda had directed concerned regional directors to intensify its efforts against these PAGs to ensure that they will not be used in illegal activities in connection with the upcoming polls.

The PNP said it received reports that some elected government officials and potential candidates are facing security threats ahead of the polls.

As of September 20, the PNP is considering 246 barangays as election areas of concern under the red category, which will be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections.

Also, a total of 1,248 barangays have been recommended for the orange category and 1,100 for the yellow category.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has 151 possible election areas of concern, Eastern Visayas has 60, and the Bicol Region has 21.

“This list is fluid. It may change anytime depending on the political climate in the area and these are being constantly monitored through our coordination with the Comelec, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Acorda said.

Areas under the yellow category have reported suspected election-related incidents in the last two polls and have intense partisan political rivalry and candidates possibly employing partisan armed groups. These areas may also have been previously placed under the control of the Comelec.

Orange areas exhibit two or more factors under the yellow category or a serious armed threat posed by local terrorist groups and other threat groups.

The red category, meanwhile, refers to areas with one or more factors described under the yellow category and serious armed threats posed by local terrorist groups.

The lists of the PNP, AFP, and PCG on election areas of concern will be consolidated and will be forwarded to the Comelec for approval.

Incidence of violence

A total of 44 incidents of violence suspected to be related to the upcoming BSKE have been monitored so far, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on September 25.

Six of these incidents have been validated as being connected with the polls, while 32 have been validated to be unrelated to the upcoming BSKE.

Meanwhile, six incidents are still undergoing the validation process.

Over the weekend, the PNP said a total of 1,063 people were arrested and 650 firearms were seized for violation of the election gun ban as of September 28.

Of those arrested, 1,017 were civilians, while others were members of law enforcement, security guards, and elected government officials. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News