MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to rigorously implement checkpoints after the number of “hotspots” have been identified for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
“We want a strict implementation of the checkpoints in accordance with our established guidelines and protocols,” said acting Comelec Chairman Al Parreño in an interview Monday.
He noted that they are no longer surprised regarding the thousands of poll “hotspots” based on their past experiences in connection with the holding of village and youth polls.
“During the barangay (and SK) elections, usually there are more incidents being monitored,” the poll body chief said.
Parreño explained that it is because the aspirants in the forthcoming elections are living and from the same community.
“The candidates are just in the same area and live in the same barangay so more incidents will have to be monitored,” said Parreño.
Earlier, the PNP announced that there are 7,544 election hotspots throughout the country.
These areas were identified as those which had recent incidents of poll-related violence in the past years.