BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – No issues or untoward incidents have been reported during the sixth day of filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) in Western Visayas for the 2025 midterm elections, according to lawyer Dennis Ausan, the regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Region 6.
In an interview, Ausan emphasized that they are closely monitoring and validating reports in areas with a history of or ongoing intense political rivalry.
He noted that such a proactive approach aims to prevent any potential conflict or untoward incidents during the election process, particularly in some municipalities where tension among political parties could arise.
“In so far as Comelec is concerned, we have no list of areas in Western Visayas that can be considered as areas of concern,” Ausan told reporters.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) earlier ruled out placing Ajuy town in northern Iloilo as an election area of concern (EWA), or “hotspot,” based on current parameters.
Ausan said the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Committee would convene and determine certain parameters before categorizing certain areas as an election hotspot.
“Once we receive the request, we will discuss things and look into the basis based on the categories before declaring the town as an area of concern,” said Ausan.
Mayor Jett Rojas of Ajuy reportedly requested from Comelec Iloilo provincial office that their town be placed under the EWAs list.
Rojas will run for vice mayor alongside current Sangguniang Bayan Member Loida Espinosa, who will seek the mayoralty post.
Espinosa will reportedly challenge her cousin, 5th District Board Member Carol V. Espinosa-Diaz, who earlier claimed about the presence of “armed men” in the town with their faces concealed.
Ausan said the Comelec guidelines must be met before certain areas are placed under the EWAs list.
For towns or cities to be placed under Category 1, or Yellow classification, any of the following factors must exist:
* A history of or current intense political rivalry among contending parties could motivate people to engage in violent acts.
* The presence of private armed groups (PAGs) that have been or can be utilized by candidates in the area, supported by loose firearms and gun-for-hire gangs.
* A validated election-related incident (ERI) occurred in the 2016 national and local elections, without involvement from domestic terrorist groups.
* Suspected politically motivated violent incidents involving elected government officials (EGOs), aspirants, or supporters from January 2018 to the present, including those who filed certificates of candidacy (COCs) until the start of the election period.
* Politically motivated ERIs occurring during the current election period, provided there is no participation from domestic terrorist groups.
* Validated reports of candidates involved with illegal drug groups, where such support is likely to lead to election violence.
* Areas previously declared under COMELEC control during the last election.
On the other hand, for towns or cities to be placed under Category 2, or election areas of immediate concern, two or more of the above factors shall be present;
* Serious armed threats from communist terrorist groups (such as the New People’s Army), local terrorist groups (such as the BIFF, ASG, AKP, or rogue elements of the MNLF/MILF), and other similar groups.
* Reports of “permit to win” or “permit to campaign” schemes by communist terrorist groups or extortion by local terrorist groups.
* Reports of candidates supported by these groups.
Meanwhile, the Comelec noted that a town or city is considered a Red area if factors under Category 1 and Category 2 are present./PN
