Only one of five local government units in Negros Occidental classified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as “areas of concern” for the May 12 polls may be a concern, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Sunday, Jan. 19.
Lacson was reacting to COMELEC Commissioner Aimee Ferolino’s including Isabela, San Enrique, Calatrava, Cauayan and Sipalay City in the “areas of concern list”.
“Of the LGU’s mentioned, only Calatrava may be a concern not because of political rivalry, but because of the presence of communist terrorist group remnants,” Lacson said.
Isabela and San Enrique are considered to have close political battles, but they have managed to have peaceful elections, he said.
Sipalay City is as peaceful as can be, Lacson added.
Lacson said his message to the candidates and their supporters is: “Enjoy the campaign and for the victors, keep your promises”.
The Comelec has classified Isabela and San Enrique as yellow and Calatrava, Cauayan and Sipalay City as orange.
An area is classified as yellow if there is an occurrence of a suspected election-related incident (ERI) in the last two elections provided there was no participation of domestic terror groups; and the existence of intense partisan political rivalry with no participation of domestic terror groups.
An area is classified as orange if there is a combination of two or more factors under category yellow, or serious armed threats posed by communist terrorist groups and/or other threat groups as may be declared by the competent authority.*