Monday, October 08, 2007 500 Armm barangays are poll hotspots
AT LEAST 500 barangays in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) were tagged as "areas of immediate concern" in relation to the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections due to the presence of armed groups.
These groups reportedly pose a threat to the peace and order situation during the coming elections.
This was according to Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao, Armm police director.
Goltiao said the SK and barangay elections had to be monitored even more closely than the local and national elections. In the coming polls, Goltiao said the rivals are practically neighbors.
However, Armm Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan said all candidates in the SK and barangay elections would sign a peace covenant to avoid clashes.
Goltiao said more troops from the military and police should be deployed in Armm to ensure the security of voters and Commission on Elections staff. (Edgardo Fuerzas)
