ILOILO City – Police in Iloilo province are watching out for private armed groups as they prepare for possible violence in the months leading to the May 2019 midterm elections.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office aims to curtail their movement, according to the director, Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba.
Tayaba previously told capitol reporters that the IPPO was monitoring three armed groups: one in the municipality of Tigbauan in the 1st District and two from northern Iloilo, or the 5th District.
He clarified that these armed groups are currently inactive.
But this will not stop the IPPO from going after them, stressed the provincial police director.
Tayaba ordered his intelligence personnel to intensify surveillance and serve standing warrants of arrest as soon as possible.
There is a high chance these inactive armed groups become active again, especially that the elections draw near, he stressed.
In addition, Tayaba said they are stepping up the hunt for loose firearms.
“We believe na iyong illegal firearms … ang ginagamit ng criminals and would-be criminals,” he pointed out.
Records showed the IPPO has seized 1,607 loose firearms from January to September this year – up 198.81 percent from the 536 seizures last year./PN
