There are 17 cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental included among the 158 election watchlist areas (EWAs) in the Visayas, Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the AFP Visayas Command (VISCOM), said Friday, March 31.
It is an initial list that will be reassessed and validated as the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls in October draw near, he told DIGICAST NEGROS.
The 17 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental are Don Salvador Benedicto – area of concern; Silay City, Victorias City, Toboso, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, Hinoba-an, Sipalay City, Isabela, La Castellana, Calatrava, Ilog and Cauayan – areas of immediate concern; and Candoni, Moises Padilla and Escalante City – areas of grave concern, he said.
Based on the classifications made by the Comelec, PNP, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, areas of concern are places with election-related incidents in the past two elections, with intense political rivalry, and with the presence of armed groups.
Areas of immediate concern are areas with the presence of the New People’s Army and other threat groups who may disrupt the upcoming elections, while areas of grave concern are those who have the presence of all elements.
VISCOM met with the Area Police Command-Visayas of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard during the 1st quarter Visayas Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center meeting on Wednesday, to start laying down security plans for the upcoming elections.
“Let us start assessing our EWAs, the private armed groups, and even the threats to our politicians. As we have learned, the threat to our politicians continues even after the election. So, they should be monitored not only before and during the election, but also even after the election,” Arevalo said in a statement.
A total of 37 areas in Western Visayas and 58 in Eastern Visayas were placed under EWAs.
Maj. Israel Galorio, VISCOM public information officer, said the concentration of 63 EWAs in Central Visayas are in Negros Oriental due to recent violence that killed Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others.
Of the 158 areas, 40 have been categorized as “areas of concern” while 92 as “areas of immediate concern” and 26 as “areas of grave concern.”
The election period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls will begin on August 28 until Nov. 24. The campaign period will be from October 19 to 28 and the Election Day will be on October 30.*CPG with a report from PNA