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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PNP monitors 48 PAGs as security preparations for barangay, SK elections begin

PNP monitors 48 PAGs as security preparations for barangay, SK elections begin

Published May 22, 2023 01:51 am
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now monitoring at least 48 private armed groups (PAGs), which it said, could be used to sow violence and tapped for election cheating in this year’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda said police commanders and intelligence units were already instructed to also step up the monitoring of the movement of the members and the mobilization of the PAGs to ensure that they would not be given any opportunity to disturb and sabotage the elections.  The barangay and SK elections, which usually need more security focus due to history of violence, are scheduled in October this year and Acorda said part of the early interventions being done, aside from monitoring the PAGs, are police operations and other measures to take away the instruments of crime and violence, particularly firearms. “We are focusing more on the preventive aspect of crime control as instructed by the President. This is done by taking away the instruments of crime and violence by also accounting for the criminal elements who set into motion the criminal motive,” said Acorda.  “This is also done by hardening soft targets and establishing strong police presence to further deny opportunities for crime to be committed,” he added. Based on the PNP data, a total of 10,971 loose firearms have been accounted for by the police while a total of 6,221 more guns were received in various police units across the country for safekeeping, mainly due to expired licenses, since January this year.  The same data revealed that a total of 27,948 wanted persons were either arrested or surrendered to the police. “Aside from operations against wanted persons and loose firearms, the PNP also neutralized 187 criminal gangs with the arrest of 854 and surrender of 86 gang members, and confiscation of 126 firearms also since January this year,” said Acorda. The PNP is usually the main law enforcement agency tapped to secure elections. 
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