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Comelec's Ferolino: Pilar, Abra placed on red category


The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has placed Pilar town in Abra under the red category weeks after the shooting incident which resulted in the death of a bodyguard of Pilar Vice Mayor Jaja Josefina Somera Disono.

According to GMA News’ Tina Panganiban-Perez, Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, chairperson of the Comelec Committee on the Ban on Firearms and  Security Concerns (CBFSC) announced the red category while they the Comelec continued to verify the reports related to the incident.

Abra was previously under the orange classification.

“Putting a certain area under Comelec control is a sensitive issue,” said Ferolino. “Decisions must be made based on formal reports from our deputies in charge of the security, peace, and order.”

“Pending verification of the reports received, the CBFSC has upgraded the categorization of Pilar from Orange to Red,” she said, adding the decision to place the area under the poll body’s control will be decided at the next meeting of her committee.

Comelec Resolution no. 10481 states that the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines classify all areas in the country under four categories: green, yellow, orange, and red.

Areas under the green category are considered generally peaceful for the conduct of elections.

Yellow areas have reported suspected election-related incidents in the past two polls, the possible presence of armed groups, and intense political rivalries. Yellow areas are considered “areas of concern.”

Orange areas have a recorded presence of armed groups such as the New People's Army that may interrupt the polls. These are considered “areas of immediate concern.”

Meanwhile, red areas meet the parameters for yellow and orange areas. Security forces will focus on monitoring these areas with the possibility for violence and intense political fights among local candidates. —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA News

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