In a recent address to the legislative body, Representative Loreto Acharon from General Santos City called for more stringent regulations on firearms and the dissolution of private militias to address the growing issue of violence during elections. Acharon highlighted the necessity of robust legal measures to safeguard the integrity of electoral processes over the long term. He argued that without clear and effective laws, efforts to mitigate or eliminate election-related violence would be disjointed and ineffective. Acharon observed that while the number of election-related incidents has decreased since 2013, the nature of these incidents has become more severe, particularly around election times. He noted a disturbing trend of smaller, more strategic armed groups being used to influence voters and manipulate election results. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has pinpointed 403 areas of concern for the upcoming mid-term elections in May, with 38 of these falling into the ‘Red Category’ due to high security risks from armed threats and past election violence. Conversely, 1,239 areas are categorized as ‘Green’, indicating no significant security issues related to elections. Acharon praised Comelec’s proactive approach in identifying these areas, which he believes will aid in the strategic allocation of security forces and resources. He emphasized that even areas currently deemed safe could rapidly deteriorate as election day nears, underscoring the need for continuous vigilance. Additionally, Acharon commended the establishment of the National Election Monitoring Action Center and Joint Security Control Centers, which are designed to improve coordination among Comelec, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Congressman Urges Tighter Gun Laws to Combat Election Violence
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