MANILA – The Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3) has recommended 12 municipalities in Central Luzon to be declared areas of concern to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in connection with the upcoming May elections.
Without identifying the specific municipalities, PRO-3 Director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said these areas are in Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Bulacan and Pampanga.
He said the political situation in Region 3 is manageable although they continue to monitor for any possible violent incident resulting from “intense political rivalry.”
“Historically, alam naman natin na ang Central Luzon ay talagang may mga intense political rivalry. May mga violent incident rin na nangyari sa mga nakaraang eleksyon. Kaya ngayon, ‘yung mga lugar na yun ay ating tinututukan. Kasama din sa mga ni-recommend natin for further monitoring at dinadagdagan natin yung mga resources natin na nandoon, kasama na yung pagdadagdag ng mga pulis at yung ating mga logistical resources (Historically, we know that Central Luzon really has intense political rivalries. There were also violent incidents that happened in the previous elections. So now, we are focusing on those areas. They are also among those we have recommended for further monitoring and we are increasing our resources there, including additional policemen and logistical resources),” Maranan told reporters in an interview at Camp Crame late Tuesday afternoon.
He added that all police units in the region continue to intensify the crackdown on private armed groups (PAGs) and loose firearms ahead of the midterm elections.
Maranan confirmed that only one PAG remained in Central Luzon, specifically in Nueva Ecija where he ordered the deployment of 200 additional personnel to secure the province.
By the order of Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla to go after PAGS and other criminal gangs, they have dismantled five criminal groups in Region 3 during the last quarter of 2024.
He added that the PRO-3 confiscated 1,346 guns through checkpoint operations and 266 search warrants from October to December 2024 as part of its pre-election efforts against loose firearms.
The regional police reassigned policemen related to candidates in the elections, Maranan said.
The Philippine National Police will impose a nationwide gun ban beginning January 12, 2025, coinciding with the start of the official campaign period for the May 2025 midterm elections. Checkpoints will be established in strategic locations as part of the efforts to secure the polls. (PNA)