41 Municipalities on PNP Election Watch List and 2 Partisan Armed Groups in Caraga

January 13, 2010

by: striker_jem

Butuan – The Police Regional Office 13 after validation have identified 41 municipalities in Caraga Region including Butuan City under its election watch list.

PNP Chief Jesus Versoza in today’s visit to Butuan said, attention by the JSCC’s will be focused on these election watch list of areas because there might be a possibility of violence.

Concerns will likewise focus on the effort of neutralization of criminal elements especially in the possession of guns by two partisan armed groups in Caraga Region.

“Validation is continuing, there might be additions or reductions. Intelligence community will be conducting validation of these areas geared towards an orderly election”, said Police Director General Jesus Versoza.

In a report read by Police Director Jaime Milla, Directorate for Integrated Police Operation in Eastern Mindanao, the municipalities of Santiago and Tubay in Agusan del Norte have been placed under Category 1 or areas with intense political rivalry and having an election related violent incident on 2007 elections.

It also includes Esperanza, La Paz, San Francisco and Trento in Agusan del Sur, Alegria, Dapa and San Francisco in Surigao del Norte, Bislig, Madrid, San Miguel and Tandag in Surigao del Sur, and the municipality of Loreto in Dinagat Islands Province.

Placed under Category 2, or those areas with heavy presence of communist movements are, Las Nieves, Buenavista, Carmen all of Agusan del Norte; Butuan City, Sta Josefa, Veruela, Sibagat, Bayugan, Prosperidad, San Luis, and Bunawan in Agusan del Sur, including the municipality of Loreto where in 50% of its barangays are affected by local police movement in 2007 elections.

Also placed under category 2 are Malimono, Claver and Sison in Surigao del Norte; Lingig, Hinatuan, Liangga, Tagbina, Barobo, San Agustin Bayabas, Mayatas, Carrascal, Cantilan and Lanuza in Surigao del Sur.

Police Director Milla vowed the dismantling of the two partisan armed groups the soonest time possible but refused to divulge where in Caraga Region as operations are ongoing.

PNP Chief Versoza on the other hand said, there will be a lot of factors that the PNP need to consider in the continuing validation of partisan armed groups and separate special task group will be created in neutralization operations.