THE ZAMBOANGA Peninsula regional police has intensified its campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms ahead of the scheduled Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in May. “There are operations ongoing right now to look for the [loose] firearms and the private armed groups, this is our main preparation,” Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) chief Billy B. Beltran said in Zamboanga City. Mr. Beltran said there are at least eight identified armed groups in different parts of the region that could potentially carry out politically related atrocities during the campaign period and election day. Mr. Beltran said the polls for community and youth leaders have historically been more “bloody” compared to local and national elections due to rivalry among families within smaller political zones. Meanwhile, the Regional Joint Security Coordinating Council is set to convene soon to lay down security measures to be implemented by the police, military, and members of the Commission on Elections, particularly in the so-called “hotspot areas.” — Albert F. Arcilla

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