INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

6 ARMM provinces on poll watch list

Inquirer

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The six provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have been placed under the Philippine National Police and Commission on Elections watch list after they were labeled “hotly contested areas.”

Chief Supt. Joel Rudio Goltiao, police chief for the ARMM, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Friday that aside from the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Sharif Kabunsuan, 29 villages were labeled “immediate areas of concern,” while 737 others as “areas of concern.”

“We are doing the assessment every day. Updating may vary but our basis for identifying these areas as hotly contested is due to the recent intense political rivalry, the presence of armed groups and history of violent incidents on previous elections,” Goltiao said.

He also said Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos had approved a request of some regional election directors to deputize military troops in the coming elections in areas “where there are extreme situations.”

Sulu, Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Sharif Kabunsuan are areas where soldiers will be tapped to assist the police, Goltiao said. They have already started coordinating with the Philippine Marines assigned in Sulu, he said.

Police and military said no special treatment will be given to followers and supporters of Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari, who is set to run for the gubernatorial seat in Sulu.

Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, Western Mindanao Command chief, said MNLF members who go around fully armed and campaigning for Misuari would be arrested.

“We will definitely apprehend them,” Cedo said.

In Manila, Philipine National Police chief Director General Oscar Calderon said the PNP was not taking any chances of violence marring the May polls.

He warned police commanders to do their jobs properly or face relief. He also ordered all leaves of absence of PNP personnel cancelled starting April 1.

Already, 29 election-related violent incidents have been recorded in different parts of the country by the National Election Monitoring and Action Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Police have arrested 1,178 persons and confiscated 1,106 firearms, 57 explosive devices and 198 deadly weapons. Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao, and Christine Avendaño in Manila

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