By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) said yesterday there are no private armed groups currently operating in the province.

NOCPPO spokesperson, Police Captain Judesses Catalogo, said private armed groups that have previously operated in the province have already surrendered.

Catalogo said the only armed group operating in Negros Occidental was the New People’s Army.

The NOCPPO continues their monitoring as the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections get nearer.

Earlier, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) also reported that they are not monitoring any presence of private armed groups in the city.

Police Major Joery Puerto, BCPO’s Intelligence Unit head, said they have already conducted a threat assessment among top city officials.

All of them have not received any threats, he said.

Puerto said the city’s elected officials also do not have private armies.

Several of them have bodyguards, all of whom are legitimate and authorized by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

He added that they will continue to monitor the situation in the city.

Data released by the PNP-Public Information Office (PNP-PIO) revealed there are 48 private armed groups across the country, of which three are “active” and 45 are tagged as “potentially active.”

PNP-PIO chief, Brigadier General Redrico Maranan, said these groups are heavily involved in murder and harassment cases, especially during elections.

Among the regions being monitored for activities of private armed groups include Western Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao./DGB, WDJ