Govt identifies 558 election hotspots, 170 armed groups

THE government has identified 558 election hotspots and at least 170 private armed groups across the country, members of the National Security Council-Cabinet cluster said Wednesday.

Citing data from the National Police, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said there were 296 areas listed under Category 1, or those where there is a high possibility of politically-motivated incidents, and 262 areas under Category 2, or those where there is a serious armed threat posed by communist guerrillas and rebel groups in Mindanao.

Ermita said there were also some 1,110,000 loose firearms, and of which more than half were unregistered.

The Commission on Elections earlier identified nine provinces as election hotspots: Maguindanao, Abra, Nueva Ecija, Masbate, Sulu, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Basilan and Samar.

National Security Council director general Milo Ibrado said security forces were looking at some 170 private armed groups that had to be dismantled before the May 10 general elections.

Of the 170 private armies, 68 had already been confirmed while 40 more were being investigated, Ibrado said.

Ermita said 77 private armies had been identified in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao alone.

President Gloria Arroyo had earlier ordered government troops to launch military operations against all private armies ahead of the May 10 elections.

National Police Chief Jesus Verzosa said there would be one dedicated police unit to dismantle each of the validated 68 private armies.

Versoza said a joint security control center would also be formed to oversee the assignment of security personnel to politicians during the election period.

The control center will be composed of representatives from the National Police, Commission on Elections, National Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces.

“In the next few days there will be application of search warrants. There will be actual offensive military operations,” Versoza said.

Versoza said the National Police had already submitted the names of politicians who were suspected of keeping private armies that might be used to ensure their victory in the May elections. –Joyce Pangco Pañares with Ferdie G. Domingo, Manila Standard Today