Potential 'election areas of concern list' being validated by Comelec

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has already submitted its list of "Potential Election Areas of Concern" to the Commission on Elecions (COMELEC) and is now being validated.

"Itong mga potential election areas of concern (list) ay pinadala natin sa Comelec. At only Comelec ang puwedeng mag declare po 'neto... Ito po kasi ay dadaan pa sa validation ng joint security council na pinapamunuan po ng Comelec," said PNP Spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday.

"Meron tayong apat na category. Definitely po, yung mga nagkaron po ng validated election-related incidents at definitely po papasok po 'yun at least sa "yellow category" dahil nga po may nangyaring insidente," she added. 

Fajardo also said that other parameters being considered are intense political rivalry in some areas and the presence of private armed groups.

She, however, refused to give figures for now. 

"Nagiingat po tayo diyan, na maglabas ng numero at areas baka magkaron po ng implication in determining ng kanilang possible areas of concern po," explained Fajardo. 

In the last barangay and SK elections, two areas were placed under the "red category," according to the PNP.

"Ang purpose po ng determination ay kung ilang mga pulis po ang ilalagay natin at areas of concern, at ilan ang malalagay sa Comelec control," said Fajardo.

Last month, Police General Rommel Marbil ordered his commanders to start identifying possible “election areas of concern” for the 2025 polls.

The PNP also said it will also determine if additional personnel would be needed to deploy in certain areas in anticipation of possible election-related violence.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News