Security forces monitor 4 armed groups in Cebu

The intelligence chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) said they are monitoring four armed groups that could be used by politicians to sow violence this election season.

Supt. Paul Labra II, chief of Regional Intelligence Division of PRO-7 said they have monitored one group in Lapu-Lapu City and three others in Cebu province.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, regional director of PRO-7 said a task force has been created to monitor these groups.

“We formed an intelligence task group to conduct surveillance, back ground check of these groups”, said Garbo.

Garbo said in Central Visayas, 81 towns and cities are under the Election Watch List Areas (Ewas).

Yesterday, PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP), and the Commission on Election (Comelec) convened for the second time the Regional Joint Security Coordination Conference (RJSCC) to discuss the security situation related to the upcoming May 13 elections.

Timmie Lambino, regional director of Comelec Central Visayas said they are closely monitoring developments in the 81 “hot spots.” So far, he added, there is no reason yet to declare the areas under Comelec control.

In Cebu, the whole 4th district has been listed as a “hot spot.” The 4th district covers the towns of Tabogon, Medellin, Daanbantayan, San Remegio and Tabuelan and Bogo City in mainland Cebu and the towns of Santa Fe, Madridejos and Bantayan in Bantayan Island.