CEBU CITY -- A private armed group with links to ‘prominent personalities’ has been detected in Negros Oriental, the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas disclosed on Tuesday, July 4.
Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of PRO-7 regional director Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, said some of the members of the armed group have already been arrested.
Operations to arrest the other members of the armed group are ongoing, said Pelare.
“There are prominent personalities involved. This is the result of the intelligence monitoring that we have conducted,” said Pelare.
Pelare said the focus of the police and the military is to capture wanted persons who are believed to be associated with armed groups.
“We also have a problem with the communist terrorist group in the area. As you know, this CTG, this is also being monitored to ensure that Negros Oriental will remain safe and peaceful especially in the coming elections,” said Pelare.
Pelare added the PRO-7 is ready should the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections push through in the province this October.
A public hearing has already been conducted to determine if the elections will push through or not.
Pelare said assessment in the area has been ongoing as well as the threat assessment on elected government officials and potential candidates.
“We are ready to provide security if it is decided that the elections will push through. But all of this will depend on the declaration of the Commission on Elections,” Pelare said.