More or less 20 members of partisan armed groups, mostly in Mindanao, were either arrested or killed since the Philippine National Police (PNP) has stepped up the election security campaign last year, a police official said on Tuesday, April 26.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said most of those neutralized were in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR), some of them were members of the local armed groups.

"Some of them were members of the local terrorist groups moonlighting as private goons of local politicians during election period," said Fajardo.

Fajardo said the PNP, in cooperation with the military, has started their their operations last year.

Since May last year, then Chief PNP Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar has ordered all police commanders to started running after private armed groups and loose firearms to ensure the peaceful and credible conduct of the election on May 9 this year.

Eleazar was concerned of the private armed groups who would be tapped to assassinate political rivals or do the dirty works, especially in raising campaign funds through illegal activities.

In one of his speeches last year, Eleazar said there was also a need to ensure that the proliferation of loose firearms are contained or stopped as these are the main instruments being used in election-related violence.

Fajardo, for her part, said they are continuously conducting investigation on the involvement of local politicians.

"If we have enough evidence against those employing these partisan armed groups, then we will file cases," said Fajardo.

Except from the mayor and vice mayor in Abra, there are no other candidates who are charged for employing private goons.