Election ‘hot spots’ identified

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged yesterday the military and the police to beef up their security forces in potential election "hot spots" to ward off untoward incidents that could undermine the results of the July 15 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

At a joint command conference yesterday at Camp Aguinaldo, Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. was briefed by top officials of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines on the political climate prevailing in the country.

Considered as potential election "hot spots" were Central and Southern Luzon and the whole of Mindanao.

Maj. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, chief of the AFP’s Northern Luzon Command, said intense political rivalries were very evident in most villages of his region, adding that strong police and military presence are there to contain them.

Cited by the authorities as potential threat to the conduct of safe, honest and orderly elections in Southern Tagalog was the heavy presence of communist guerrillas. The authorities also based their assessment on violent incidents that marred previous elections in the region.

Apprehensions were also raised over the reported resurgence of private armies of political warlords in Mindanao, saying these armed groups might be used to undermine the people’s will in the July 15 polls.

Abalos ordered the release of P10 million as support fund for the deployment of soldiers and policemen to help ensure the safe conduct of the elections.

The AFP earlier asked for P56 million from the poll body to bankroll the deployment of the troops, which will begin next week.

AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Gregorio Camiling has been designated by the Comelec as task force commander for the coming political exercises.

PNP deputy chief for operations Director Edgar Galvante said all police units nationwide would be placed on high alert during the elections.

He said politicians known to maintain private armed groups were being closely monitored to prevent them from committing any mischief meant to influence the results of the polls.