AFP looking at more or less 300 areas as possible election hot spots

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said it is considering more or less 300 areas as possible hot spots during the conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in October.

AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar told reporters that these include areas where communist armed rebels are present and guerilla fronts are active.

“When asked about ilan ba ang magiging hot spots, kasi doon naman talaga nagkakaroon ng maraming activities, we're looking first at the areas which the CPP-NPA are trying to recover or those areas where they have presence. We're starting from that figure, more or less 300,” he said.

(When asked about how many areas would be considered hot spots, where a lot of activities will happen, we’re looking first at the areas which the CPP-NPA are trying to recover or those areas where they have presence.)

“We are also looking at areas kung saan meron pang (where there are still) active guerilla fronts like the Samar area,” he added.

According to Aguilar, there are 22 remaining guerilla fronts and only two of them are active.

Meanwhile, Aguilar said the AFP has not monitored any groups of former military personnel who are being used for illegal activities in connection with elections.

However, Aguilar said the AFP has strengthened its counter-intelligence capabilities to monitor ex-military members who may be used for such activities.

“We strengthen our counterintelligence capabilities to make sure that we can still monitor those who have special skills so they don’t get hired for illegal activities,” he added.

On Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is monitoring three active private armed groups (PAGs) and 45 potential PAGs ahead of the BSKE.

Earlier, the Commission on Elections (Comelec), through its spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco, said they are now 100% ready for the elections.

Laudiangco said almost 92 million ballots to be used for the elections have already been printed as of May 10. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News