Police, military verifying politicians’ use of armed groups for May 9 polls – PNP

FILE PHOTO: PNP spokesperson, Police Col. Jean S Fajardo. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The police and military are validating the utilization of private armed groups by politicians running in the May 9 elections.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo disclosed this Monday, noting that the use of private armed groups is one of the “risk factors” against ensuring an orderly and peaceful election this year.

“Sa ngayon, marami pa po tayong vina-validate na mga (Currently, we are validating many) risk factors that may somehow affect ‘yung (the) peaceful conduct of election,” she said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

“Isa na po diyan ‘yung possible employment po ng mga private armed groups at ito naman ay pinagtutulungan ng PNP at AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) na masiguro na hindi po sila magagamit ng sinumang kandidato o pulitiko, incumbent man o bago, para masigurado po na magkakaroon po tayo nang maayos at tahimik na eleksyon po,” she added.

(One of those is the possible deployment of private armed groups which is now being addressed by the PNP and the AFP to ensure that they will not be used by any candidate or politician, incumbent or neophyte, to assure that there will be an orderly and peaceful election.)

Fajardo reiterated that the PNP observed a peaceful start of the campaign period on February 8.

READ: The race is on, campaign season for national posts kicks off

But she also noted that while the campaign period kick-off was nonviolent, there were some health protocol violations such as physical distancing.

Fajardo likewise noted the checkpoints established by the PNP and Commission on Elections from January 9.

To date, the PNP has apprehended 1,085 people who have violated the election gun ban, according to Fajardo.

KGA