CL among BSKE focus areas -- PNP

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO---The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday disclosed that Central Luzon is among six regions in the country being monitored for possible disorder that may erupt ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) set on October 30, 2023

PNP chief General Benjamin Acorda said the police is focusing more on Central Luzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Caraga, Cordillera Administrative Region and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao where alleged 48 active and potential private armed groups may mobilize on the days leading to the elections.

"Part of the early interventions are operations 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 [Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.]. 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,” Acorda said.

He added that the PNP is also monitoring some 430 barangay officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

"Some of these barangay officials are included in the PNP’s list of high-value individuals and street-level Individuals in the war against drugs. They have varying involvement in illegal drugs where some are pushers, some are protectors and others are financiers. But based on our update, there are more or less 430 barangay officials involved in the illegal drug trade, many of them are in Region VI (Western Visayas),” he said.

Acorda urged the public not to vote candidates who are involved in illegal drugs.

The filing of certificates of candidacy for BSKE will be from August 28 to September 2 and election day will be on October 30 this year.