Comelec puts 242 villages under red category of areas of concern

AREAS OF CONCERN. Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Aimee Ferolino holds a press conference at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila on Wednesday (Oct. 4, 2023). Ferolino named the areas of concern for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said 242 villages in the country were included under the red category of election areas of concern (EAC) ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

Comelec data show that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao recorded the highest number of villages under the red category as of Sept. 20 at 147, Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino  said in a press conference.

She said this classification may still progress as the Oct.

30, 2023 BSKE nears.

“Historically, pag palapit na tayo sa election, mag-i-intensify ‘yung rivalry kasi lalo’t mag-u-umpisa na ang campaign period. Kasi iyong sentiments ng mga tao, so emotions will be high, we’re expecting higher incidents and higher categories will be classified under the red (Historically, rivalry intensifies as the election nears, especially since the campaign period is about to start. This is due to people’s sentiments, so emotions will be high. We’re expecting higher incidents and higher categories will be classified under the red),” she said.

Ferolino explained that for an area to be included under the red category means it hit a lot of parameters in terms of security threats. If the situation gets worse, the area may be declared under Comelec control.

Among the parameters set under this category include the occurrence of suspected election-related incidents, the existence of intense political rivalry, possible employment of partisan or private armed groups, the occurrence of politically-motivated election-related incidents, and history of declaration of Comelec areas of concern and Comelec control.

Ferolino said places under the red category are considered to be on the watchlist and need to be carefully monitored because there’s a threat.

Moreover, around 1,257 villages around the country were placed under the orange category, including a single area in Metro Manila.

In a Viber message to journalists, Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said Barangay Silangan in Quezon City was included under the orange category because based on the assessment of the Comelec Law Enforcement unit and the Commission’s security agency partners the area has “presence ng (of) intense political rival(ry).”

Some 1,077 villages have been placed under the yellow category, while the rest of the 39,425 remaining villages are under the green category or generally peaceful villages.

Aside from the areas of concern, the Comelec also reported seven validated election-related incidents (ERIs) as of Wednesday.

These include shooting, indiscriminate firing, and kidnapping incidents in San Jose, Libon, Albay; Malabang, Piagapo, and Saguiran in Lanao del Sur; Taal, Batangas; Baleno, Masbate; and Baloi, Lanao del Norte.

The victims include a civilian as well as an incumbent and running BSKE candidates. Most of the suspects remain to be at large, reports said.

To date, Comelec is closely monitoring all areas in the country, through the around 187,882 established checkpoints nationwide.