• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Twenty-six towns and cities in Negros Island Region have been been tagged as areas of concern for the May 12 elections, Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec regional director for Negros Island Region, disclosed on Tuesday.
Twenty-five of the areas of concern are in Negros Oriental and one is in Negros Occidental, according to Castillano.
Among the towns and cities in Negros Oriental, Castillano disclosed that Guihulngan City and La Libertad are under the red category, orange category for Basay City, while the rest are under the yellow category.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) employs a four-tier color-coded system to classify election concerns. The yellow category is for areas with a history of election related incidents, orange for areas with serious armed threats, red category for areas with serious armed threats and history of election-related incidents, and green category for areas without election related security concerns.
During the 2023 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, the entire Negros Oriental was placed under Comelec control, following the assassination of former Governor Roel Degamo.
The politically motivated attack in Pamplona, Negros Oriental claimed 10 lives, including Degamo’s, and injured 17.
Castillano also reported that Candoni town in Negros Occidental was placed under orange category, due to serious armed threats, while the remaining 31 towns and cities of the province, as well as six towns in Siqujior, are under the green category.
He explained that placing 22 towns and cities in Negros Oriental under yellow category was due to the province being placed under Comelec control in previous elections.
As far as the present peace and order situation of Negros Oriental is concerned, Castillano said “so far, so good,” adding that they have not received any reports on the presence of armed groups.
Asked if the New People’s Army remains a threat to the election, he said there is no indication that they will sabotage the May polls.
“We all know that they also have candidates being supported,” Castillano further said.
Last month, about 200 police personnel from Police Regional Office 7 in Cebu were dispatched to Negros Oriental for election related activities and disaster related operations, as a result of Kanlaon Volcano eruption on December 9 last year.
While they need 200 more personnel, Castillano said they will try to make do what they have to ensure peaceful and orderly elections in Negros Oriental.
The Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center (RJSCC) of the Negros Island Region will have a meeting on March 19 at the 302nd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.
Castillano said RJSCC will deliberate the recommendations made by the PJSCCs of Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Siquijor, especially regarding areas of concerns, for approval before forwarding it to the Comelec central office.*
