Speaking at the AFP PNP Press Corps briefing Wednesday (Mar. 30), held at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Brigadier General Benjamin Silo said that all the security plans of PRO 11 have been in place
already.
He said PRO 11 has no record of election- related violence as well as presence of private armed groups (PAGs) compared to other regions in the country where cases of violence relative to the upcoming elections are happening.
“Yong security preparation nakalatag na and makikita niyo naman as of today kung ikukumpara niyo with other regions, here in Davao Region, we have no election related incidents at wala rin po tayong private armed armed groups,” he said.
Silo however said, they keep on monitoring potential PAGs, adding that all provincial directors have already ordered to secure identified election areas of concern.
“Ang mga provincial directors rin napag utusan na yong mga IPR ay siguraduhing secured sila by assigning at least a minimum of one team augmented by local forces sa mga venues kung saan idaraos ang mga kampanya,”Silo added.
All checkpoints were also intensified in coordination with its Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counterpart.
“We also conducted simultaneous anti-law enforcement operation sa mga Local Government Units (LGUs). May mga nakalatag pa ring mga operation. Medyo surgical na yong operation namin and we will be targeting particular group of people na posibleng makagawa ng kaguluhan," Silo said.
Silo also assured to intensify its campaign against loose firearms through
buy-bust, search warrant, Oplan: Katok, and Oplan: Boga beginning the first week of April.
“We will notify owners of loose firearms to renew the registration of handguns or have it surrendered in the police station where his residence is under jurisdiction,” he said.
PRO 11, earlier identified 16 election hotspots in Davao Region considered as areas of concern for the election season.
Areas under Yellow category which are the election areas of concern are Sta. Cruz, Matanao, Magsaysay, Malalag, Hagonoy, Padada, in Davao del sur and New Corella, and Monkayo in Davao de Oro.
Eight municipalities under orange category or immediate of concern are Kiblawan in Davao del Sur; Lupon in Davao Oriental; Mabini, Maco, Maragusan, Montevista, New Bataan, and Pantukan in Davao de Oro.