THE Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 is monitoring Negros Oriental, with its top official saying that insurgents might have fielded candidates in the barangay and youth elections in May.

Chief Supt. Robert Quenery, PRO 7 director, said that intelligence operatives are gathering information on these candidates.

For his part, Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Edgar Alan Okubo said he recommended that some villages in Tuburan be included in the election watch list of areas (Ewas) due to past election-related incidents. He’s optimistic the recommendation will be approved by election and police officials.

He also recommended for study some barangays in Daanbantayan that may be included in the Ewas. The presence of private armed groups, rebels and other criminal elements is considered before declaring a barangay part of the Ewas.

PRO 7, Quenery said, will augment forces in villages that are declared part of the Ewas. The regional police director went to CPPO headquarters in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City for his first command visit. (KAL)