Bishop says armed groups
common sight in Masbate

ARMED men are a common sight in troubled Masbate province, threatening parishioners into voting for certain candidates, a Catholic bishop said.

Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon, who headed the diocese of Masbate from 1998 until December 2009, said parishioners had sought Church help and reported being threatened.

“Several people have told our priests armed ‘visitors’ would go to their house the day before elections to tell them to stay home the next day because there was no guarantee they would be safe in the streets,” Baylon said.

He said the armed men were usually “goons” hired by opponents of candidates they were supporting.

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