Each member of a private armed group (PAG) in Masbate
offering services to political candidates receives PHP25,000 to PHP50,000
during election time, a Philippine Nation Police official now temporarily
assigned in Masbate said.
Police Chief Insp. Arthur Gomez, Regional Special Police
Operation Task Group-Masbate (RSPOTG-Masbate),
said this contract price is for a duration of one month before the May 9
election.
Gomez said the payment for a PAG member who does not have a
firearm is PHP25,000 while PHP50,000 for one who has his own gun.
The PAG members are those who offer their services to the
candidates and usually surface during elections.
Gomez refused to name the PAGs but, he said, one group has
29 members while the other one has 15.
Based on the reports gathered by task force and the Armed
Forces of the Philippines
In this connection, the police and the military have already
dispatched forces in the towns of Balud, Esperanza, Aroroy, Milagros and
Cawayan and these are operating for 24 hours.
These and the presence of checkpoints aim to limit the
movements of PAGs and other lawless elements in the province.
Gomez said 20 percent of crimes reported in the province
were committed by motorcycle-riding men, prompting the task force to intensify
their checkpoint and patrol activities.
The PNP official they are still counter-checking the report
of the existence of three more PAGs in Masbate
and these criminal gangs, he said, are involved in robbery-holdup and are just
waiting for calls from politicians.
He said that once the local politicians sign the peace
covenant on March 1, this could bring a significant contribution to the success
of the campaign of authorities for a peaceful election in the province.
Gomez cited the significant contribution of the Masbate
Peace Advocates, headed by Judge Igmedio Emilio F. Camposano, towards this
goal.
The MPA is composed of religious organizations, businessmen,
government agencies, members of the judiciary and private individuals.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=861090
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