4 more provinces set to be named poll hotspots

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte -- Four more provinces are likely to be added to the list of “high risk” areas for the May polls due to intense political rivalries.

Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. identified these four provinces as as Ilocos Norte, Northern Samar, Sulu and Zamboanga del Norte.

Earlier, the PNP and the Department of Interior and Local Government identified the 15 other “high risk” provinces as Abra, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cagayan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas, Masbate, Samar, Misamis Occidental, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan.

Cerbo said the PNP is coordinating with other government agencies in assessing the situation in the four provinces before any decision could be made.

He said the intense political rivalries, presence of private armed groups and loose firearms were among the issues being considered in the assessment of the situation in certain areas.

The PNP said it has neutralized 17 private armies after it launched an aggressive campaign against criminal elements to ensure honest and fair elections in May.

The PNP has brought down to 43 from 60 the number of active private armies recorded six months ago when it initially assessed the country’s peace and order situation as part of the preparation for the coming elections.