Monday, October 15, 2007 Rebels would want to control barangay polls: cop chief By Carlo P. Mallo
THE presence of armed rebels in the hinterlands of Southern Mindanao is the primary reason why more than 400 villages have been placed under the category of election areas of immediate concern.
Members of the New People's Army are expected to directly intervene in the conduct of the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls at the end of the month.
In an interview with Police Regional Office-Southern Mindanao Director Andres Caro II last Thursday, he said they are preparing for aggressive and direct intervention of the rebel group in the polls.
"It's the barangay polls, and being at the grassroots level, we expect that the rebels would want to take control," Caro told Sun.Star Davao.
A total of 419 villages in the region have been categorized as election areas of immediate concern. In Davao del Sur, 216 villages are placed under the said category. A far second is Compostela Valley with only 73 villages placed under the same category.
"The presence of armed threat groups in the area is the reason" why the areas have been placed in the category of areas of immediate concern, Caro said.
Eastern Mindanao Command Chief Cardozo Luna said the communists would be using the barangay polls to grab support for their dying cause. "But we are ready and prepared for them," Luna added.
Moreover, two municipalities have been placed under the category of election areas of concern. The municipality of Malita in Davao del Sur has only been placed under the category despite its history of election-related violence in the area.
Moreover, Caro expressed that the police force is already prepared for the conduct of the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls on October 29.
