• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said he is confident that the conduct of elections in 55 Negros Occidental barangays that were recommended to be included as election areas of concern, will turn out peaceful.
The Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Center earlier recommended 55 barangays in Negros Occidental to be categorized as election areas of concerns, due to sightings of armed rebels in those areas, as disclosed earlier by Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade commander.
While he did not give figures on the exact number of possible areas of concerns in the Negros Occidental, provincial police director PCol. Leo Pamittan, however said he expects the numbers to go down, as validation continues, as of this time.
Lacson, chair of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, noted that insurgency-related incidents took place in some hinterland barangays, such as occurrence of armed encounters between government forces and New People’s Army rebels, which warrants consideration as areas of concerns.
He however said those villages are not even recommended to be placed under Comelec control.
While there is concern, we are confident that there will be a peaceful election in those areas, Lacson said.
The Philippine National Police is also closely monitoring inactive Private Armed Groups (PAGs) in Negros Occidental, in relation with the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 30.
Pamittan, however said those inactive PAGs are even due for delisting.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office supervises more than 1,400 police personnel assigned in various city and municipal police stations, as well in mobile force companies.*
