Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Why not have Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel secure opposing candidates in Mindanao, including Maguindanao?
Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidate Panfilo "Ping" Lacson made this suggestion Thursday, Feb. 27 following the attempted assassination of Vice Mayor Mohammad Omar Samama of Datu Piang in Maguindanao del Sur.
"Beyond the usual reactive investigation of election-related violence in Maguindanao, government may consider replacing all the security escorts of the opposing candidates with AFP personnel belonging to the same army battalion or division in the region," he said in a post on X.
"Having Army personnel belonging to the same unit and under the same field commanders replacing PNP and private armed groups securing both camps will prevent armed confrontations," added Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
The assassination try took place on Monday, Feb. 24.
CIting information he received from sources in the area, Lacson said at least six candidates for councilor and their supporters have already been killed in politically motivated incidents in Maguindanao, which was recently divided into two provinces - Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
The PNP is reportedly eyeing an armed group behind the assassination attempt. Samama, who was injured in the shooting but whose condition has since stabilized, is running for reelection.
Meanwhile. Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia was quoted in reports as saying the poll body has monitored a spike in the cases of election-related violence in Maguindanao and in Cotabato City.
Garcia also said more areas may be placed under the "red" category (serious threats) of areas of concern before Election Day. Datu Piang was among the 38 areas of concern under the "red" category.