The Philippine National Police (PNP) is currently evaluating 403 election “areas of concern” to determine whether some places need to be added or stricken out of its list of potential hotspots.
At a press briefing Thursday, PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said regional joint security control centers are due to submit their assessment on possible flashpoints ahead of the midterm election in May.
She said the identified areas are in the list as of January 9, citing Commission on Elections (Comelec) data.
“Concerned directorates are waiting for the reports of the regional joint security control centers, and this will be the basis for the adding or subtracting from the 403 [hotspots],” Fajardo told reporters.
Of the total number, 188 are under the yellow category, 177 areas are under the orange category, while 38 areas are under the red category, signifying the ascending likelihood of election-related violence.
The PNP is expected to focus its resources on red areas, where political rivalries are the hottest and the probability of violence are highest.
As this developed, President Marcos extended PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil’s term by four months, allowing him to serve beyond the mandatory retirement age of 56.
A memorandum dated Feb. 4 and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed the extension, which takes effect Feb. 7—Marbil’s scheduled retirement date.
The directive was addressed to Interior Secretary Remulla.
Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla ordered the PNP to dismantle all private armed groups (PAGs) and uphold professionalism as the midterm polls come near.
During his command visit at Police Regional Office – Central Visayas (PRO 7), he emphasized that PAGs should not be allowed to harass voters or taint the elections.
The Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) chief reminded police personnel of their two main directives: “dismantle the PAGs and uphold professionalism.”
Remulla warned police officers not to take sides, avoid partisanship and its activities or function as private security forces for politicians.
“They cannot function as a private army of politicians. They have to stay neutral, they have to stay professional,” he said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Marcos extends Marbil’s term by four months”