NPA fielding bets in b’gay polls in Region 1 – police

SAN FERNANDO, La Union  – The New People’s Army (NPA) has fielded some of its members to run as village chiefs or councilmen in the Oct. 28 barangay elections in the Ilocos region, police said.

Senior Supt. Sterling Raymund Blanco, intelligence chief of the Region 1 police, disclosed in a briefing of election and law enforcement officials at Camp Florendo here Oct. 18 at least 23 supposed NPA members taking part in the village polls are being monitored in the provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and La Union.

“Some of these (NPA members) are incumbents,” Blanco said.       

To prevent the NPA from taking advantage of the barangay elections, either by penetrating local governments or staging terrorist activities, police and military officials have prepared a tight security plan.

Chief Supt. Ricardo Marquez, Region 1 police director, said police, along with the Army and Navy, have beefed up security measures during and after the barangay elections to ensure peace and order.

Col. Vic Castro of the Army’s 72nd Infantry Brigade said they would assist policemen in tightly monitoring the elections to thwart any NPA attacks.

“The NPA might take advantage of the election period because this is the best time to stage an ambush or any kind of sabotage, including (attacks on) vital installations,” Castro said.   

Authorities, along with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), have identified 171 barangays in Region 1 as areas of concern. They also took note of the presence of 14 criminal groups and two private armies.

Lawyer Noli Pipo, Comelec regional director, sought tight security for election personnel and teachers serving in the polls.

“We all know that there is tension, intense political rivalries in the barangay level because those (pitted against each other) are relatives, families, friends and neighbors. We need security for protection,” Pipo said. 

Overall, Pipo said he is confident that barangay elections in Region 1 would be peaceful and orderly.