THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) said on Tuesday that they are monitoring several areas in the city where New People's Army (NPA) operates leading to the 2016 elections.
DCPO spokesperson Milgrace Cajes Driz identified Paquibato, Calinan, Marilog, Baguio, and some barangays in Tugbok as areas prone for extortion activities by the NPA.
"These are the areas we are monitoring as of now for extortion activities by the NPA," Chief Inspector Driz told Sun.Star Davao in an interview at her office Tuesday morning.
Driz, however, said that these areas are not yet declared as Election Watchlist Areas (EWAs), which the Commission on Election (Comelec) will have to finalize on January 2016.
"The mere presence ng mga communist rebels sa mga areas na ito only signifies why these areas are tentatively placed on category 1 and 2 by the Police Regional Office (PRO) in Davao," Driz said.
She bared that they have previously monitored extortion incident in Paquibato District.
"So far tahimik naman dito sa mga areas. Wala namang kelangan i-interfere pa ang NPA rebels kasi wala namang mga kalaban ang mga Davao candidates," she added.
Marlon Casquejo, assistant regional director for Comelec Davao, earlier said that any candidates who are paying the NPA rebels for campaign fees will be disqualified from running.
Driz, however, admitted that they have a hard time monitoring politicians who are paying fees to the rebels.
"Mahirap maka-monitor kasi even ang politicians hindi na yan nagsasalita kung nagbigay sila o hindi. Sa atin lang kapulisan ay naghihintay lang tayo ng report from concerned citizens," Driz said.