PNP chief: Destroy private armies

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar ordered all police offices and units nationwide to intensify operations against private armed groups and loose firearms ahead of the election season.

“I am directing all police offices and units nationwide to intensify operations against private armed groups and loose firearms. We will not only focus on Mindanao but in other parts of the country as well,” Eleazar said in a statement Thursday.

Over 130 PAGs are being monitored in Mindanao alone by authorities, according to the National Task Force on the Disbandment of PAGs (NTF-DPAGs), chaired by Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año.

Eleazar said the PNP wants to ensure credible, orderly and peaceful elections in 2022.

“Local police offices should intensify their intelligence gathering measures to keep a close eye on all potential private armed groups as well as syndicates involved in gunrunning activities,” he said.

Eleazar assured that the PNP was already polishing its security measures less than a year before the next presidential elections.

The filing of certificates of candidacy for aspirants in next year’s national and local elections will be from October 1 to 8.

The campaign period for national positions will start on February 8, 2022 until May 7, 2022 or 90 days before the scheduled elections.

On the other hand, local candidates are allowed to campaign 45 days before the May 9, 2022 polls or from March 25, 2022 to May 7, 2022.