PNP watching at least 60 cases of political rivalries

November 13, 2018

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is monitoring at least 60 cases of intense political rivalries , majority of which involve candidates for mayoralty posts nationwide for the 2019 elections.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr. said Tuesday 53 cases involve candidates running for mayors while four are vice mayors, two governors and one for Congress.

Majority of the cases are from Ilocos region with 28  followed by Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Autonomous Mindanao in Muslim Mindanao with nine each.

Durana said the PNP have monitored 77 private armed groups with some 2,050 members and armed with 1,065 firearms.

Asked how many politicians are connected with armed groups, Durana did not give a figure.

“The number is dynamic because there are several risk factors we  are looking as we prepare and finalize security preparations for the midterm elections,” he told reporters. DMS