PNP MONITORS 48 PAGS AHEAD OF ELECTIONS

AROUND 48 Private Armed Groups (PAGs) in the country are being monitored by the Philippine National Police (PNP) amid preparations to ensure a peaceful and orderly Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) this year.

PNP Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said in a press conference on Monday, May 29, 2023, that three of these 48 PAGs are active.

These groups are operating in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Caraga, Cordillera Administrative Region and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“I would like to reiterate my directive to all regional directors to intensify the campaign against these groups and ensure that they will not be utilized in the upcoming barangay and SK elections,” said Acorda.

Over the past years, PAGs were tapped to do violent activities to pursue the advantage of a certain candidate against others.

Illegal drugs involvement

Aside from PAGs, the PNP is also monitoring 430 barangay officials, including 115 barangay captains and 316 barangay councilors, for their possible involvement in the illegal drug trade.

The PNP said 67 of them are in Central Luzon, 53 in Bicol Region, 76 in Western Visayas and six in the National Capital Region.

Acorda said that although mandatory drug testing is not among the requirements for the filing of the certificate of candidacy, the PNP welcomes any voluntary benevolent gesture by candidates to present to their constituents a “clean bill of health.”

The PNP said it is strengthening operations against barangay officials involved in the illegal drug trade, noting that it is vital in raising public awareness about officials in their respective areas seeking government positions.

It is also to avoid violence ahead of the BSKE, noting that drug groups, as well as money, can be used to harass the public in order to pursue the objective of a candidate./