Concerned over the “disturbing” number of election-related killings, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales appealed to politicians Thursday not to hire goons as he also assured that the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be at the disposal of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure violence-free, credible, and honest May 10 polls.

Gonzales said that as elections near, they have been monitoring “several killings a day,” which he described as “widespread” nationwide. But he said that they still do not have the exact figure of these killings.

The Defense Secretary said that the poll-related killings remain the biggest security threat in this year’s elections.

Gonzales said that he has the partial listing of those politicians who already hired goons as well as the listings of those who planned to hire their own hooligans.

“Ang pakiusap na lang siguro huwag na lang nila kaming puwersahin na gamitin na yung puwersa ng ating Armed Forces. Ipinapaliwanag natin sa lahat na kung talagang magagaling silang kandidato ay ‘di ipakita na lang nila yung programa nila sa taumbayan. Huwag na nilang gamitin itong goons kasi mapapasubo lang sila dahil hindi sila patatawarin ng Armed Forces kapag gumamit ng coercion sa panahon ng eleksyon (Our appeal to them is don’t force us to use the AFP forces against them. We are explaining to them that if they are really good candidates, then they could show their platforms to the people. They should not use goons because they will only suffer, they will not be spared by the Armed Forces once they use coercion during election season),” he said.

Gonzales said that they are monitoring the situation on the ground as the campaign in the local level kicks off on March 26.

He also asked the politicians to willingly disband their own armies to help out the government in ensuring peaceful, honest and reliable polls. “I’m giving them the opportunity to disband their own armies.”

Gonzales assures that the AFP remains non-partisan and won’t step in beyond the mandate given to them by the Comelec.