Police Major Santos L. Monares, chief of the Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office (LDSPPO) Operation Unit, presents a situation update during the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) first quarter joint meeting on March 5, 2025. Monares emphasized the LDSPPO’s ongoing efforts to curb shooting incidents and other election-related violence by ramping up checkpoint and chokepoint operations targeting illegal firearms. He also highlighted the province’s volatile peace and order situation, largely attributed to armed groups, clan conflicts, and political tensions, particularly in light of this year’s national, local, and Bangsamoro parliamentary elections. (Photo: ZRD/PIA-10)
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA) —The Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office (LDSPPO) is ramping up its efforts against loose firearms to reduce shooting incidents and other election-related violent activities.
These efforts include increased checkpoint and chokepoint operations to control the possession and use of illegal firearms, according to Police Major Santos L. Monares, chief of the LDSPPO Operation Unit.
“The province’s peace and order situation remains generally peaceful but volatile due to the presence of armed groups, clan conflicts, and political tension,” he said during the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) first quarter joint meeting on March 5.
Citing past elections, Monares said shooting incidents could become a major concern in the province, especially during this year’s national and local elections, and the first Bangsamoro parliamentary election.
From January to February of this year, the LDSPPO recorded 20 shooting incidents, a 20 percent increase compared to the 16 incidents reported during the same period in 2024. The most recent incident occurred on February 26, resulting in the death of Abdulazis Aloyodan, the former mayor of Lumbaca-Unayan town.
In addition to checkpoint operations, the LDSPPO is addressing clan conflicts to prevent further escalation by collaborating with local government units, traditional leaders, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to facilitate or encourage “rido” settlements.
Meanwhile, the LDSPPO has outlined its election deployment plan, which involves 1,483 personnel. The deployment includes 41 election monitoring centers and 240 polling centers. Moreover, 333 personnel will be assigned as Quick Response Teams in areas of concern, while 150 personnel from the provincial headquarters will remain on standby. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
