San Carlos, Agno eyed as potential ‘hot spots’
San Carlos City and Agno town are being eyed as potential ‘hot spots’ during the 2010 electoral campaign period, and to be listed as among the “areas of immediate concern” in the province.
Senior Supt. Percival Barba, police provincial director, said past electoral violence in San Carlos City and Agno town make the two on top of the police’s watchlist.
Speaking on Thursday before the KBP forum here, Barba said that his office is prepared to submit its recommendation listing the towns and cities for inclusion as among the “areas of immediate concern”.
But he would not name the other towns in his list saying the list is still subject to change until the day he is required to submit it.
According to Barba, places that have a history of political violence, especially during campaign periods are likely to be watched closely by the Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police.
In 2007, Mayor Julian Resuello and his bodyguard were hot and killed, and others more were wounded in San Carlos City less than two weeks before the 2007 election.
On the other hand, the mayor of Agno, Arthur Cabantac, was shot and killed just a few weeks after he took over the reins of the town.
Barba said he and his fellow police provincial directors are proposing a total gun ban with no exemption whatsoever.
The gun ban will take effect as soon as the campaign period starts in January next year.
“If no person is allowed to carry firearms, except uniformed personnel of the PNP and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), it would be a big boost to peace,” he said.
Barba added the PNP is set to recommend to the Comelec to limit the number of PNP securities assigned to candidates to just one or two. LM
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