With the campaign period set to begin tomorrow, Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander, Major General Dinoh Dolina, expressed concerns over the possibility of politicians using New People’s Army (NPA) rebels as “goons.”

According to Dolina, based on historical monitoring, some politicians in Negros have used the NPA in the past and would be given a “permit to campaign” and “permit to win.”

In terms of the terror group’s impact on the province, he said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) are constantly updating their areas of concern, areas of immediate concern, and areas of no concern.

He cited Guihulngan City, in Negros Oriental, as an “area of immediate concern.”

However, Dolina assured the AFP is always ready in securing the elections and making it peaceful.

The army official added, depending on the joint evaluation by the AFP and PNP, some areas affected by insurgency may be classified as elections watchlist areas./DGB, WDJ