• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Office of Civil Defense has ruled out the return of residents affected by the Kanlaon Volcano eruption to their respective areas to cast votes during the May 12 elections, Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria disclosed on Monday.
During the recent Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Center (PJSCC) meeting, Ananoria said the internally displaced persons (IDPs) will have to cast their votes either at the evacuation centers, nearest polling centers, or makeshift polling precincts.
Alert Level 3 remains in effect over Kanlaon Volcano, where the permanent danger zone has been extended to six kilometers.
Ananoria said that voters in three to four barangays of La Castellana, and one to two barangays in Bago City, will cast their votes in evacuation centers or nearest polling precincts.
PEACE AND ORDER
The 31 towns and cities in Negros Occidental, including highly urbanized Bacolod City, have remained under the green category, or areas without election related security concerns, according to Ananoria.
On the other hand, Candoni remains under the orange category, or an area with serious armed threats, he added.
As the May 12 poll nears, Ananoria expects intensified campaign activities by candidates, and political rivalries could heat up.
He, however, said the security contingency plans of the JPSCC are now in place, including full security coverage of newly arrived Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) and soon to arrive ballots.*
