The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered stricter security measures for the province of Abra despite the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) not to place the province under its control.
The placement of an area under Comelec control means that election-related violence is more likely to happen and Comelec intervention is meant to contain the possible outbreak of violence.
Police Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, director of the PNP Directorate for Operations and concurrent deputy commander of the National Security task Force on National and Local Elections, said the instruction for police commanders is to ensure that there will be no repeat of incident in Pilar town wherein the bodyguards of an incumbent vice mayor running for election engaged policemen in a gunfight.
Police have already filed a case against the incumbent mayor and vice mayor of the town.
Abra has been consistently in the election security watchlist of the PNP based on the history of election violence over the years.
De Leon admitted that there are still persistent reports of presence of armed goons and loose firearms in the province.
"This is the reason why we instructed our commanders on the ground to ensure that no election-related violence would happen again, especially during the election and the days leading to and on the day of the proclamation of winners," said De Leon.
He said Pilar town is under a Yellow Category of the PNP along with eight other towns: Dolores, Penarrubia, Pidigan, Tayum, San Juan, Tineg, and Lagayan.
More than 100 towns and cities have been recommended to be under the Red category of the PNP for the May 9 polls. The list was already submitted to the Comelec.