Security authorities in Maguindanao are mulling to put seven
towns of 36 municipalities under "areas of immediate concern (AIC)"
during next year's polls.
Senior Supt. Nickson Muksan, Maguindanao police provincial
director, placed under “areas of immediate concern” are the towns of Barira,
Buldon, Shariff Aguak, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Ampatuan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu
Unsay because of election-related violent incidents in the 2013 elections.
However, Muksan was quick to add that all the towns in
Maguindanao are undergoing military and police evaluation.
Citing previous elections, police reported election related
ambuscades, bombings and other forms of violence.
In coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec)
provincial office, headed by lawyer Udtog Tago, police and military officials
met regularly to “continue assessing and evaluating areas that most likely to
become areas of concern by the security sector.”
”The number of towns we consider areas of concern may
increase or may reduce, depending on our assessment,” Muksan told political
leaders during the summit.
The presence of “intense political rivalry” is enough to
consider a particular town or locality under AIC, he said. Muksan added some
areas are placed “areas of concern,” or areas that are previously marred by
harassment or near violence during last year’s polls but no intense political
rivalry.
One of the steps the police are taking is the conduct of
peace dialogue among political rivals and to commit them not to use violence
during the campaign period until election day.
”We are contemplating of having covenant signing and
swearing before the Holy book that candidates will never resort to violence,”
he said.
The presence of lawless elements and private armed groups
are also ground for putting towns under AIC or immediate concern for law
enforcers.
He said elections come and go but the people, including the
politicians, live in the same community after the 2016 elections. “So they
don’t need to use force just to win a seat in the local government,” he said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=836398
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