The Commission on Elections will determine its hotspots or areas of concern for the October 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls when certificates of candidacy (COCs) have been filed, Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said Monday, April 3.
The filing of COCs is set August 28 to September 2 and the campaign period will be from October 19 to 28.
The candidates running for office will be one the factors in determining hotly contested areas, Ananoria said.
The Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council has not been convened yet, he said.
There are an initial of 17 cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental incaluded among the 158 election watchlist areas (EWAs) in the Visayas, Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the AFP Visayas Command, told DIGICAST NEGROS on 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 said.
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 to have the presence of all elements.
Ananoria said the COMELEC and the law enforcement agencies will eventually reconcile their list of hotspots after the filing of COCs, he said.
He said the persons running for office in the October polls are not covered by any restrictions yet as the official campaign period has not started.*