AROUND 48 Private Armed Groups (PAGs) in the country have been monitored by the Philippine National Police (PNP) amid preparations to ensure a peaceful and orderly Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election (BSKE) this year.
PNP Chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said in a press conference Monday, May 29, 2023, that three of these 48 PAGs were active.
These groups were operating in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Caraga, Cordillera Administrative Region and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“I would like to reiterate my directive to all regional directors to intensify the campaign against these groups and ensure that they will not be utilized in the upcoming barangay and SK elections,” said Acorda.
Over the past years, PAGs were tapped to do violent activities to pursue the advantage of a certain candidate against the others.
Illegal drugs involvement
Aside from PAGs, the PNP is also monitoring a total of 430 barangay officials, including 115 village chiefs and 316 village councilors, for their possible involvement in the illegal drug trade.
The PNP said 67 of them were from Central Luzon, 53 from Bicol region, 76 from Western Visayas and six from the National Capital Region.
Acorda said that although mandatory drug testing is not among the requirements for the filing of certificate of candidacy, the PNP welcomes any voluntary benevolent gesture by candidates to present to their constituents a “clean bill of health.”
“This is a magnanimous manifestation of the individual candidate’s support of the national anti-illegal drugs campaign and should be recognized by constituents as a personal display of leadership by example, especially among SK candidates who represent the youth sector,” he said.
The PNP said it is strengthening the operations against barangay officials involved in the illegal drug trade, noting that it is vital in raising public awareness about the officials in their respective areas seeking government positions.
It is also to avoid violence ahead of the BSKE, noting that drug groups, as well as money can be used to harass the public in order to pursue the objective of a candidate. (SunStar Philippines)