PNP still prepared for ARMM elections despite plans for postponement

Miami
August 1, 2008
Story 2: PNP still prepared for ARMM elections despite plans for postponement

The Philippine National Police (PNP) are now prepared for the upcoming elections in Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on August 11.

Despite of the plans to postpone the elections, PNP Chief Avelino Razon said that there will be no changes on their plans for the preparation on ARMM elections. It can be recalled that the Congress are approved on its postponement.

“There will be no changes whether they postpone it or not, we will still be ready and prepared for the security measures in ARMM. We are still assuming that the ARMM elections will push through,” Razon said.

There will be about 4,000 policemen that will be deployed in ARMM, and this will be augmented by Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Razon added that they already identified hotspots on the area and these hotspots are being closely monitored.

ARMM PIO Supt. Danilo Bacas said that there are about 200 barangays in ARMM that are considered as area of immediate concern and about 700 barangays are considered as area of concern.

The area is considered as area of immediate concern if the following criteria are present; election related violence since 2001, there are armed group in the area and intense political rivalry in the area.

If one or two of those criteria mentioned are not present, the area will only be considered as area of concern.

The PNP Chief also said that security for media who will cover the elections are included in their preparations. Razon said there are no limits for the media who will cover the election but reminded the media to coordinate properly with the authorities in able to provide them security escorts.