By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) revealed yesterday there were three potential armed groups under monitoring in Negros Occidental.

Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Regional Operations Division chief, revealed the report during the 2nd Western Visayas Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC-6) conference in Bacolod City yesterday.

Gorero did not reveal further details, although a reliable source told members of the media that three groups are operating in Don Salvador Benedicto, Candoni and Moises Padilla towns.

Negros Occidental Governor and RPOC-6 chairman Eugenio Jose Lacson emphasized the importance of identifying and monitoring these groups in the province, considering the recent “political violence” in neighboring Negros Oriental.

Meanwhile, PRO-6 director, Police Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor said there is a need to update the election watchlist areas based on the situation at the barangay level.

Villaflor said the guidelines of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be their basis in the monitoring of armed groups in the region.

He assured that regional police officers would be vigilant as the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are near.

The PRO-6 and the Philippine Army in Western Visayas are waiting for the Comelec guidelines as they continue their security preparations for the upcoming local polls on October 30 of this year./DGB, WDJ