Southern Police District to identify private armed groups

MANILA, Philippines — Five months before the 2019 midterm elections, police will identify private armed groups in southern Metro Manila to prevent poll-related violence, an official said yesterday.

“We need to account for private armed groups per police station to thwart violence in the coming elections,” Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Eliseo Cruz said. 

The SPD also set up checkpoints and intensified the campaign against loose firearms.

Cruz said at least eight police officers would be manning each checkpoint to ensure that no election-related violence would occur in his jurisdiction.

He said they would increase police visibility and patrols, especially in crime-prone areas.

The SPD covers the cities of Las Piñas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Parañaque, Taguig and the municipality of Pateros.

“We will deploy additional policemen in areas of engagements of the candidates to protect them and their supporters,” Cruz said.

 He urged his men not to engage in partisan politics.

 “We will reassign police officers who have relatives running for local and national positions in the elections,” Cruz said.