I Love Pinoys

Macapantar added that the candidates should be able to take care of themselves while campaigning in conflict zones since they have relatives who are member of area-based rebel groups.

“These people have relatives that are member of rebel organizations,” he said.

There are at least 14 candidates gunning for three Basilan representative posts for the ARMM’s regional legislative assembly (RLA).

Macapantar assured the candidates that they will be given at least two police escorts upon request. Requests, however, will have to be coursed through the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office for approval, the official added.

Meanwhile, the Basilan police has confiscated 20 firearms since the start of the ARMM election period on May 28.

Reports said majority of the confiscated guns were from members of paramilitary forces in the province and “military intelligence assets” who failed to show COMELEC gunban exemption papers.

Macapantar said the firearms will be returned to the owners after the elections and only if proper documents are presented to the police.

Meanwhile, at least two cases of abduction have taken place in Basilan for the past weeks, including the kidnapping of two Marine troopers in Al-Barkah town on June 10.

The Marines were released by their MILF captors three days later.