74 villages in Bicol police election watch list

LEGAZPI CITY — A total of 74 villages in Bicol have been placed on the police’s watch list as political-related violence are likely to occur in these areas in the May elections.

As of January 28, Masbate had the most number of villages in the watch list with 21; Camarines Sur with 17; Sorsogon with 14 and Albay with 11.

Catanduanes had seven areas of concern, while Camarines Norte had four, said Chief Insp. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Bicol police.

The list was gathered from police units across the region, where election-related incidents took place during the previous elections.

She said the watch list could be used as a basis for the police, in collaboration with the Commission on Elections and other agencies to work out a strategy that would ensure that the elections would be clean and peaceful.

Calubaquib said parameters in identifying areas to be placed on the election watch list include intense political rivalry, the presence of armed groups, activities of criminal gangs, the proliferation of loose firearms, and activities of threat groups. /lzb