By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) spokesperson, Police Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, recently confirmed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recommended six city barangays be considered election watchlist areas (EWAs) for the upcoming May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Vargas said Comelec-Bacolod Elections Supervisor, Atty. Mavil Majarucon-Sia, said Barangays Mansilingan, Banago, Bata, Alangilan, Villamonte, and Estefania will be considered as EWAs due to “intense political rivalry.”

The police spokesperson said they previously did not release a list as the BCPO had not recorded any barangay or SK election related violence or incident.

Earlier,  the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office declared four far-flung barangays in four towns under EWAs due to the presence of the New People’s Army (NPA) and other armed lawless groups in the area./DGB, WDJ