PRO-12 assures peaceful election despite seven towns tagged as 'areas of grave concern'
DAVAO CITY – The Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12) has assured of a peaceful and orderly election in the region, notwithstanding the region’s seven towns being placed by the Commission on Election as under "areas of grave concern".

Police Brigadier General Alexander Tagum, chief of PRO-12, said that the entire police force in the region has been placed on heightened alert throughout this election season.
Tagum added that a total of 6,355 police personnel have been deployed to help the poll body conduct a peaceful, orderly and credible election. The police personnel will be in their respective duties until the end of the election period.
Most of the Philippine National Police personnel are deployed in seven areas in the region classified by the police and military as under red category or “areas of grave concern” due to presence of local armed groups, history of intense political rivalry and threats of local terrorist groups.
“Most of the PNP personnel are deployed to the red areas to enhance the security and response capabilities of the police force,” said the police official in a statement released to the media.
These seven municipalities are Columbio, Palimbang and President Quirino in Sultan Kudarat; Pikit in Province of Cotabato; Banga in South Cotabato; and Kiamba and Maitum of Sarangani Province.
PRO-12 covers the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Province of Cotabato.
Moreover, Tagum said that PRO-12 has already activated 24/7-Election Monitoring Action Centers (EMAC) in regional and provincial levels and Media Action Centers (MAC) to monitor any untoward incidents within the duration of the election period.
“I assure the people of SOCCSKSARGEN that your PRO 12 is here to make sure that you will be able to safely and peacefully exercise your suffrage during this election period,” stressed Tagum.