Comelec: More places to be tagged 'red' areas of concern in 2025 polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said more places may be classified under the “red” category of areas of concern due to the increase in election-related violence.

In Sandra Aguinaldo’s Wednesday report on “24 Oras,” Comelec's announcement came after Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur Vice Mayor Datu Omar Samama, who is seeking reelection in the May 2025 polls, was injured after getting shot on Monday.

The Comelec earlier listed 38 areas of concern under the red category as they have serious threats of election-related violence.

Comelec also noticed an increase in election-related violence, particularly in Cotabato City and Maguindanao, as the 2025 polls draw near.

Comelec chairperson Erwin Garcia pointed out that there were incidents in which local government officials and candidates were injured or killed and children affected.

“Medyo worried tayo sa ganyang development (We are worried about this kind of development),” Garcia said.

Aside from deploying more government forces in the said areas, the military and police implemented measures to encourage election opponents to avoid violence.

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“Ito pong unang linggo ng Marso pupunta tayo sa Cotabato City sa kampo sa tabi ng airport kasi gusto nating saksihan, tingnan antin kung pupunta silang lahat, sa isang covenant signing para sa kapayapaan sa lahat ng naglalabang labang kampo, grupo, pamilya diyan sa Maguindanao area,” Garcia said.

(In the first week of March, Comelec will go to a camp in Cotabato City to witness the signing of a covenant of peace among all election opponents, groups, and families in the Maguindanao Area.)

The Comelec also said it allowed some of their personnel to bring firearms to protect themselves as long as they secured a gun ban exception.

2025 polls updates

The Comelec will gather at least 40 survey firms on Thursday regarding its stricter monitoring of election-related surveys.

Meanwhile, at least 34 party-list groups were also informed that they have to remove their campaign materials that were not in the correct size or placed in approved spaces and did not use environment-friendly materials.

The Comelec said 69% or 4.8 million ballots have been printed so far. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.