by Harley Palangchao
CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – Sixty-four areas in the Cordillera are in the watch list of the regional police in line with its bid to make the region peaceful during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October.
Police Director Benjamin Magalong said the police and the Commission on Elections have noticed intense political rivalries in 36 of the 64 areas of concern.
The remaining areas are also closely monitored by the police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines due to presence and sightings or armed groups like the New Peoples’ Army.
The mainstream NPA rebels carried out at least two ambuscades during the midterm elections. Lt. Col. Roger Salvador, then head of a military brigade in Abra, said sightings of NPA rebels were reported in the boundary of upper Kalinga and Abra.
Magalong said they will also give special focus to Kalinga, aside from Abra, to avoid a repeat of NPA ambush involving a military convoy escorting board of election inspectors.
“What’s good about the peace and order situation in Abra is it is improving, considering no major untoward election-related incidents happened during the recent elections,” he said.
He added there are only two private armed groups remaining in Abra, particularly in Lagayan and Lagangilang, and the Abra police are on top of the situation.
Ifugao remains generally peaceful even after three policemen, including a police officer, were killed in a rebels’ ambush in Asipulo last April.
With only 78 days left before the Oct. 28 synchronized manual elections, the Comelec central office said the gun ban exemption issued during the May 13 polls will still be honored for the upcoming local elections.
Under Comelec Resolution 9608, exempted from the gun ban were President Aquino, Vice President Jejomar Binay, senators who are not seeking re-election, Cabinet secretaries, chief public attorney, chairs and commissioners of the Commission on Human Rights and Constitutional Commission, the Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman and investigators, prosecutors of the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Solicitor General.
But Comelec Resolution 9735 stated the approved permits in availing security personnel and bodyguards during the May 13 polls will not be extended for the October polls.
The gun ban and employment of security personnel for the synchronized barangay and SK elections will begin on Sept. 28.
http://baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph/business.asp?mode=archives/2013/august/8-11-2013/bus7.txt
abrenian.com 
Adu pay NPA jay SALLAPADAN, LACUB, BAAY, ken BUCLOC APO Magalong…
Posted by TagaBanBantay | August 14, 2013, 5:16 pmwhat particular areas po sa ABRA?
Posted by danglas mavericks | August 14, 2013, 5:51 pmCorruption ang no. 1 na dahilan ng gulo dahil sa pag-ibig nila sa pera ng bayan o gobierno. Tanggalin ang pundo nila from the Senate/Congress. DLG. etc. to barangay at ilipat sa talagang gumagawa ng alin man project na gusto nila ,tingnan ko lang kung meron pang magnanakaw na gustong kumandidato? Pag nagawa ito Sir, tapos ang problema sa peace and order especially POVERTY na matagal ng dahilan kung bakit may NPA, drug users. holdapers, criminals at iba pang mga elemento ng kasamaan.
Ngunit ang problema ay ayaw kumilos ang mga lawmakers natin sapagkat wala na silang makurakot at maski gustong-gusto ng mabait nating Presidente na maging totally successful ang kanyang Matuwid Na Daan kung mga “think tank” naman niya ay ayaw din paalis ang mga pondo/pork barrel na ito (for poltical reason/strategy, pang-attack yata sa mga thief politicians na gamitin sa campaign election ang ibig sabihin yata nito?)na mas marami ang kasamaan na ibubunga kaysa kabutihan ay wala talagang pagbabago maski sino pa ang ating maging Presidente.
Kung mali ang akala ko sir, please patawarin mo ako (hu..hu..hu..)
Posted by hopeless abrenian | August 14, 2013, 6:44 pmCan we know which particular barangays?
Posted by Boss | August 14, 2013, 6:47 pmApay naggapuan ti pamilya nga Hagedorn? Awan met ti ammok nga pamilya nga Hagedorn ti probinsya nga Abra. No adda man, apay nga agpangpangas nga kasla kababaknangan?
Posted by LiNa | August 14, 2013, 9:18 pmjay palawan express
Posted by eric shawn | August 14, 2013, 10:17 pmIf indeed there are onlly 2 remaining private armed groups in Abra, particularly in Lagayan and Lagangilang, may I know what the PNP under the leadership of Gen. Magalong is doing about it? The PNP claims to know where they are, how come they have not arrested them? The PNP has the nasty habit of saying that they are on top of the situation but they are the only ones who know what that means. What about the Bernos group in La Paz and Danglas, the Valera group in Bangued, the Seares group in Dolores, and the group of Gov. Takit, among others, are they not armed? Whenever I chance upon them, I don’t see sticks and stones. I see high-powered guns and the number of armed men in the group would even put to shame the PSG of Pres. Pinoy. Is there one set of rules for the members of the opposition and another for the administration and its allies? I have no political allegiance, but I want the law to be enforced equally without fear or favor. Let the chips fall where they must. The existence of the private armed groups in our province is a blight on the collective reputation of Abrenos that must be erased.
Posted by pedro abreno | August 14, 2013, 11:37 pmCouldn’t have said it better.
Posted by Boss | August 14, 2013, 11:58 pmdo they display their guns? if they do, call the police immediately. but if you can’t see their guns but assume that they have guns in their bags, can’t make the arrest.
Posted by JOMA | August 15, 2013, 1:31 amATTENTION: Isu daytoy tay comment ko tungkol tay news lastly “Abra town adopts modified rice program mga BUNGANGERA KAYO walang kuenta mga salita ninyo. dak dak dak..
Yes it is a good job! But look only us Hancock that commented, our fellow Abrenios didn’t comment any thing if something is good has done by LGU for our fellow Abrenios. They want crimes, gossips, appointees, rape etc as their subjects of gossips! Yeah you..! talk and talk and sleep…and wake talk and talk again! No adda ka Abra dakayo tay agtutugaw diay sango ti karruba store agchichismis…ke lalake ninyo bungangera.
Posted by caloy | August 15, 2013, 7:59 amWith all due respect, CALOY, you are in the wrong thread. You like to make sweeping statements without bothering to find out if your statement has any basis in fact. You cast aspersions on the character of other people posting their comments and observations in Abrenian.com without any regard for their freedom of expression. Just who do you think you are? Are you trying to tell us what to post or what not to post? It has never been about gossips. It has always been about seeking redress for grievances and pointing out what is wrong because, truth to tell, we don’t even know if our so-called leaders still know the difference between right and wrong. The mayor of Villaviciosa has adopted organic rice farming, I admit. But has anything good come out of it already? Would you have me praise her for a good result that we have yet to see? If we criticize our so-called leaders for iniquity or wrong-doing, are we not within our rights? We pay our taxes after all. Almost all of the threads in Abrenian.com are about iniquity and wrong-doing. Are we supposed to play the role of the proverbial monkey (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil)? Just in case you missed it, I posted my observation and comment in the thread about the Tangadan Elementary School getting recognition from the DEPED. Good news coming out of province of Abra is as rare as rain in the desert. We are not the ones doing the reporting. We only post our comments and observation about whatever is reported. I hope you refrain from making sweeping statements. We live in a democracy. You can praise whoever you want to praise but you have no right to chide us for posting our own observations and for choosing whatever thread we want to participate in. Kaunting respeto naman. Huwag mo namang agawan ng bait ang mga ibang tao na naghahayag lamang ng kanilang mga saloobin at hinaing.
Posted by pedro abreno | August 15, 2013, 4:53 pmYes Mr. Pedro Abrenio I beg your understanding. I am new here. I was expecting this blog site that I can see good things are being done in our Province. I came to know this web site regarding issues in Abra by friends. What I observed here is that all I can see are bad and nothing good here are coming out for Abra? What am I trying to point it out here is that when is our Province becoming a big time province like our neighbors i.e. Ilocos Sur & Norte, La Union and the rest? When? I am very disappointed the way our Province moving. I care for the Abrenios specially our youths. Killings, graft, infrastruture low class of constructions and many more that you can here from among our Abrenio friends and read in internet news. Why our political leaders in Abra, if they are trully leaders, never care for development of many? Only their families that they are considering and never mind the welfare of many. This is also nationwide decease- corruption. And I can say it is worldwide. Graft and corruption is already a decease of Filipinos from way back Spanish Era. We have inherited the “easy life easy get money” attitude from Spanish Conquestidors. Spain conquered us to get many from us, they didn’t care- that is sakim. I am getting hopeless I think to change our Province and the whole of Philippines.
A littile suggestion if possible Mr. Abrenian.com. Please find news that are good and heart warming for Abra.
Note also. This Napoles I don’t believe we got money in Philippines as big as that and few are holding. What a shame for Phillipines. Poor country but a lot of money for graft and corruptions. Politicians are pro graft & corruptions. Need change but I don’t know how!
Posted by caloy | August 16, 2013, 12:00 amYes, CALOY. All of us want nothing but genuine change for the sake of our people. I perfectly understand how dismayed you are with the way our so-called leaders are running the government. Well, you are not alone because most Abrenos are outraged by the plunder of public funds by our shameless politicians. That is the real reason why most people are expressing their righteous indignation.Bad news overwhelms the good because that is the reality on the ground in Abra. A very few individuals, almost all of them politicians have so much while the great masses of our people have so little. Things have to change. We cannot just sit by and watch. We must make sure our voices are heard.
Posted by pedro abreno | August 16, 2013, 1:22 amITA NGA ALDAW APO NAGADO PAY NPA JAY AMTI, QUILONG-OLAO BOLINEY ABRA APO…. IBUSEN DA TI BAGAS TI UMILI BWISIT A PALANG DGITA… AGBUTENG MET TI SULDDAOS GAMIN NGA APAN UMATAKAR KANYADA
Posted by CONCERN | August 15, 2013, 5:03 pm“He added there are only two private armed groups remaining in Abra, particularly in Lagayan and Lagangilang, and the Abra police are on top of the situation”. AS FAR I KNOW, THERE IS NO PAG IN LAGANGILANG. Wrong report again. Please report accurately so as not to confuse the readers.
Posted by Rod | August 15, 2013, 8:01 pmMr. Palangchao, sigurado ka nga nasao ni MisDirector Magalong nga Lagangilang ti maysa kadagita ili nga adda PAG? Ania ti ar-aramiden ti Army Detachment sadiay Lagangilang ket adda pay “Intel” Personnel (Army) sadiay? Wenno nagerrado kayo? Mayor Abaya, ania ti makunam, ‘nong?
Posted by Genti | August 17, 2013, 10:49 am