DILG sees 37 hot spots for Eleksyon 2025

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday said it is looking at 37 areas as possible hot spots for 2025 elections.

“Meron tayong 37 hot spots —28 nasa [Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao], meron sa 3rd and 4th District ng Leyte, meron din sa Central Luzon,” DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(We have 37 hot spots — 28 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, there are hot spots in the 3rd and 4th District of Leyte, also in Central Luzon.)

“Kaunti na lang kumpara sa dati. Pero generally, we don't expect violent elections (Fewer compared to before. But generally, we don't expect violent elections),” he added.

In September, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Marbil ordered his commanders to start identifying possible “election areas of concern” for the 2025 polls.

Aside from this, the PNP will also determine if additional personnel would be needed to deploy in certain areas this early in anticipation of possible election-related violence.

Ahead of the 2025 polls, incidents of violence against elected and aspiring local officials have been reported in different parts of the country.

One of the latest incidents was reported in Tantangan, South Cotabato where a former barangay chairman who has filed for candidacy for vice mayor in the 2025 midterm elections was shot dead on November 18. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News