Garbo: PNP WATCHING 34 towns, 10 ‘armed groups’

Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, chief of Police Regional Office (PRO-7) said yesterday they are now finalizing their security plan for the May 2013 election.

Garbo gave this statement after presiding a command conference of all city and provincial police directors in Cebu held at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).

In the command conference, Garbo said they are focusing on securing the polling centers, the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines and ensuring that peace and order is maintained during the campaign period.

In Cebu, 34 of the 53 localities are being watched closely as rivalry of local political groups heighten.

They are also monitoring at 10 suspected armed groups to prevent them from causing any form of violence this election season.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), he added, is also taking a major role in peace and order operations in Cebu and the whole Central Visayas Region.

The PNP, AFP and the Comelec are doing regular monitoring of the peace and order situation.

They are also intensifying their campaign against loose firearms and explosives./Correspondent Chito A. Aragon