11 more LGUs now ‘red’ in poll security watch
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has identified 11 more local government units (LGUs), mostly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as being under “red” category in the poll body’s areas of concern for the May 12 midterm polls.
Raised from “yellow” to “red” category are the towns of Nunungan in Lanao del Norte and the towns of Lumbaca-Unayan, Malabang, Masiu, Mulondo and Tamparan in Lanao del Sur.
Meanwhile, Guihulngan City and La Libertad in Negros Oriental, Piagapo in Lanao del Sur and Datu Hoffer Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao del Sur were elevated from “orange” to “red” category.
Under Comelec’s color-coding scheme adopted for the areas of concerns, “red” is for areas with serious armed threats and history of election-related incidents. “Orange” is for those with serious armed threats while “yellow” is for those with a history of election-related incidents.
“Green” areas are LGUs with no election-related security concerns.
However, based on the list of security category changes for LGUs as of March 11 and the revised list of security categories as of March 19 released by Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia, there are fewer areas of concern identified this month compared to the poll body’s data released last January.
Several towns and cities previously under a higher category have been placed under a lower level. There are now 386 LGUs under “red,” “orange” and “yellow” categories compared to the 403 reported in Comelec’s January data.
According to Garcia, 36 LGUs are now under “red,” 156 under “orange,” 194 under “yellow” and 1,256 under “green” categories. Last January, Comelec statistics showed 38 under “red,” 177 under “orange” and 188 under “yellow” categories.
The rest of the country’s cities and towns are under the “green” category.
In an interview with reporters, Garcia said the number of areas of concern, based on election history, is expected to increase when the campaign for local candidates starts on March 28.
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He said the poll body would use the list to plan deployment of police and military forces, such as in the Maguindanao-Cotabato corridor.
Garcia said he spoke with Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil on Tuesday and the latter said he was not recommending yet any local government to be placed under Comelec control.
Garcia earlier said that LGUs under the “red” category were likely to be placed under the commission’s control and supervision.
“I hope no one among politicians or candidates, whether incumbent [local government official] or not, would think of having your place under Comelec control because you won’t like it. It will make the lives of our people in the area a little difficult, and we don’t like that,” the Comelec chair said in January.
He said the commission would consult police chiefs and military commanders and local election officials before deciding to place an area under its control.
