Political clans, private armies under tight watch in Eastern Visayas

Officials of the Army's 802nd Brigade, Leyte police provincial office and Commission on Elections meet during the Leyte provincial peace and order council meeting to ensure secure and safe May 2013 elections in the province.(Photo by REYAN L. ARINTO) — Officials of the Army’s 802nd Brigade, Leyte police provincial office and Commission on Elections meet during the Leyte provincial peace and order council meeting to ensure secure and safe May 2013 elections in the province.(Photo by REYAN L. ARINTO)

By REYAN L. ARINTO

TACLOBAN CITY— Aside from partisan or private armed groups, the army and police in Eastern Visayas are watching the intense rivalry among political clans in two provinces as an area of concern.

A deterioration in the security situation in these areas could be basis for the inclusion of several towns as hotspots, according to Col. Rafael C. Valencia, commanding officer of the 802nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Ormoc city said.

He said intelligence reports revealed the presence of PAGs in Leyte’s third and fourth congressional districts and some parts of Biliran.