PNP increasing security in 15 areas for 2019 elections

December 11, 2018

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will reinforce security in 15 areas identified as possible election areas of grave concern  in the 2019 polls.

Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr., PNP spokesman, said Tuesday authorities came up with the list consisting of three cities and 12 municipalities in a national peace and order council meeting in Davao City on Nov. 26.

“There is a continuing validation of the security situation as we progress towards the election period,” he said in an interview.

Majority of the areas are in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with nine followed by  Bicol with two and one each in Cagayan Valley, Northern Mindanao,  Zamboanga Peninsula and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) regions.

Authorities said the presence of rebel groups such as the Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the New People's Army made these areas of grave concern.

Other factors include a history or current intense political rivalry, presence of private armed groups, occurrence of election-related violent incidents and validated reports of candidates involved in illegal drugs and other criminal activities.

It is possible these areas will be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Durana added. DMS