BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has identified 18 “election hotspots” in Negros Occidental.
These areas were further categorized – “red” (areas of grave concern), “orange” “(areas of immediate concern) and “yellow” (areas of concern).
According to Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, spokesperson of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), three areas were “red”, 14 were “orange” and one was “yellow”.
Areas in the “red category” would be heavily monitored due to intense political rivalry and the potential presence of private armed groups and communist insurgents, said Donasco.
Among others, there would be checkpoints, he said, which could intercept gun ban violators.
Earlier this week, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental identified 12 “areas of concern” in three categories:
* Category 1 – “areas of concern” or areas that have intense political rivalry and have a history of election-related violence
* Category 2 – “areas of immediate concern” due to the presence of private armed groups or communist insurgents
* Category 3 – “areas of grave concern” due to intense political rivalry, history of election-related violence and presence of private armed groups or communist insurgents
Salazar identified only one area in Category 1 – the town of Don Salvador Benedicto.
Under Category 2 were the towns of Manapla, Toboso, Binalbagan, Hinoba-an, and the cities of Silay, Victorias, Himamaylan, and Kabankalan.
Meanwhile, Category 3 areas were the towns of Candoni and Moises Padilla, and Escalante City./PN
