THE Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered a crackdown on private armed groups, which he said, could be used to influence the outcome of the national and local polls next year.
PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar gave the order as the filing of certificate of candidacy starts next month.
He said the local police should intensify their intelligence gathering measures to combat these groups in order to prevent them from committing election violence.
The PNP assured the public that it would not let violent groups to bring atrocities during the poll season and it would also not allow election fraud to happen from the start of filing of certificate of candidacy, the campaign period, the election day as well as during the declaration of winners.
“Hindi papayagan ng inyong PNP na manaig ang pananakot, pandaraya at karahasan sa darating na halalan dahil hindi lamang ang kalayaan ng ating mga kababayan na malayang pumili ng kanilang mga lider kundi pati na rin ang kapakanan ng ating bansa,” PGen Eleazar said.
Based on police data, a total of 65 members of private armed groups have been so far neutralized, wherein eight were arrested, one was killed and 56 others have surrendered to authorities.
In the 13 operations conducted from January to August 2021, a total of 73 firearms have been recovered by authorities.