Violence on the rise as May polls draws near

EDITORIAL

The Philippine National Police has placed in their watch list possible “hot spots” in northern Luzon as the May elections is drawing near with the increase of murders suspected as related to the polls.

In the Ilocos Region, around 42 towns and cities have bee identified as possible trouble areas and the PNP is now closely monitoring and implementing a scheme to prevent the occurrence of bloodshed this election period.

Of the 42 areas in PNP watch list, Chief Supt. Constante D. Azares, Jr., Region 1 police director, said only 10 areas are possible hot spots. He said they are intensifying their campaign against suspected members of Private Armed Groups most of which are maintained by politicians.

Aside from this, Azares said, they are also intensifying police checkpoints on highways to prevent transport of illegal guns and movement of PAGs. This is welcome development as even law enforcers are going around the law and still hold firearms even if they are not in proper uniform.

In Urdaneta City, Supt. Harris Fama, chief of police, reported they arrested one Loder Valdez for illegally possessing a Cal.38 with four bullets Wednesday night. Fama said the suspect identified himself as member of the Civilian Volunteer Office but could not show any exemption given by Comelec to carry firearms outside his residence.

The PNP director of Ilocos Norte Senior Supt. Benjamin Lusad had been relieved of his post following the ambush of a group of politicians that resulted to the killing of a barangay chairwoman and the wounding of seven others including two members of the PNP.

In Ilocos Sur, 10 towns are under “areas of concern” by the police after a series of killings in the province. Eugene Paet, a radio announcer, was shot and wounded by gunmen in front of the PNP Headquarters in Bulag, Bantay town few days ago. Prior to his ambush, a candidate for councilor in Sta. Maria town was shot dead by suspected gun for hire killer. Another clerk of court was also killed in ambush in Vigan recently.

All these killings remain unsolved and police are still facing blank wall. In Pangasinan, a school principal was also killed in the province that has 15 hot spots areas. Police said that Ilocos Norte has only five hot spots while La Union has 12.

In the Cordillera, Abra is still the province which is being watched more closely by the police due to recent violence suspected as related to the coming polls. Areas of Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley are also potential hot spots and police can initiate measures to counter violence before they happen.