Police keep an eye on politicians’ goons

WITH Election 2013 fast approaching, the Police Regional Office (PRO) in Davao Region is closely monitoring lawless armed elements and organized crime groups that might be employed by politicians as their private armies.

"We monitored some but we could not divulge any information for operation purposes. Although Davao City and some parts of the region are peaceful, we still need to prepare para hindi mangyari sa atin yung na experience ng iba sa kanilang area," said Superintendent Marcial Magistrado, PRO spokesperson.

Chief Superintendent Jaime Morente, PRO director, issued a directive to his directors so ensure the peace and order in Davao Region even as politicians are now gunning for the elections.

Magistrado said that aside from watching out for lawless armed men or organized crime group, Morente also ordered his directors in the city and provincial police offices to establish the Election Monitoring Action Center (EMAC) in their area.

He assured that the PRO has a list of personal escorts of all the politicians here so that they can monitor these escorts’ activities. He added that escorts should be registered with the Police Security Protection Group (PSPG).

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director Nicanor A. Bartolome earlier in the year ordered all the regional commanders in Mindanao to reduce crime incidents in their area of responsibility during a meeting with commanders of the Region 9-12, Caraga, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) at Police Regional Office 11 in Camp Catitipan, Davao City where they also discussed their preparations for the 2013 election.

Election years have notoriously been pocked with higher incidents of crimes. Aside from politically-motivated killings, there is also a noticeable spike in syndicated crimes like kidnap-for-ransom and big-time robbery.