The Masbate Province in central Philippines' Bicol region may have to be put under the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) control in view of politically motivated killings carried out by private armed groups, the Defense department said here on Sunday. In a statement, Philippine Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales described the province as being 'in a state of a man-made disaster'. Gonzales made his initial assessment of the province after visiting the region last Friday as part of the defense and military establishments' campaign to help Comelec ensure clean and peaceful voting in May, particularly in known election hot spots. Gonzales said that the Armed Forces in Bicol and the Special Task Force Masbate of the Philippine National Police (PNP) painted a picture of lawlessness there. The local state forces have identified 10 private armed groups in the province, four of which have been validated, he said. Part of the private armed groups in Masbate are moonlighting New People's Army guerrillas and, until recently, legitimate forces of government. Special Task Force Masbate and the armed forces local command also reported that the politicians in Masbate are now 'in massive expansion of (their) armed groups' in view of the forthcoming electoral contests. According to the report of the PNP task force, some of the armed groups have the capability to use landmines or improvised explosive devices. 'Another disturbing part of the report is that even prisoners are used for criminal activities. And if they remain in Masbate, they can be used for partisan purposes in the coming election,' Gonzales noted. 