KALIBO, Aklan – The Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) declared towns in two Western Visayas provinces under “Category Green” in view of the May 2019 midterm election.
All towns in Aklan and Guimaras are “relatively peaceful.” They do not have security issues on the upcoming local and national polls, according to RJSCC.
The agency assessed around 133 towns and cities in Western Visayas in cooperation with the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Commission on Elections.
In a recent RJSCC meeting, 43 towns and cities were identified as poll hotspots; Maasin, Lemery and Calinog in Iloilo and Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental were classified as “Category Red” or in grave concern.
Sixteen towns and cities in Negros Occidental and Iloilo provinces were under Category 1, or “areas of concerns.”
The RJSCC said the potential or active presence of private armed group that can be utilized by candidates, occurrence of election-related incidents in previous elections and with history or current intense political rivalry are factors under “Category Red.”
Towns or cities under “Category Yellow” meanwhile have reports of collection of permit to win or campaign and presence of serious threats from local terrorist group. (With a report from Akean Forum/PN)
