Region 12 has 255 'areas of immediate concern' for BSKE 2018

COTABATO CITY -- Police listed 255 villages around Region 12 under areas of immediate concern for the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE 2018).

Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, the police regional director for Region 12, said these villages have history of violence, intense political rivalry, and presence of armed groups.

Morales said Region 12 has 1,195 villages and more than 250 of these are considered “hot spot” by police, military and poll officials.

“We have validated and reassessed the status of these villages as the elections draw near,” Morales said in a statement Monday.

He said villages belonging to “areas of immediate concern” category will have security personnel coming from both the police and military.

“All villages will have security personnel but special attention will be given to areas where intense rivalry, political violence and presence of armed groups,” he added.

Morales said while 255 villages were considered “hot spot” in the coming elections, steps were undertaken to ensure the safety of voters next Monday.

Among them, he said, is the campaign against loose firearms and the series of arrests made against 32 wanted persons facing various offenses.

Gun ban violators in the region also totaled 27 as of posting time, with most of them collared along checkpoints. (PNA)