Comelec yet to identify ‘areas of concern’ in Negros Occidental

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental has yet to determine any area in the province as election watchlist areas for the upcoming May 2019 midterm elections.

In a radio interview, Comelec-Negros Occidental elections supervisor, Atty. Milagros Salud Villanueva, said, during the Provincial Joint Security Control Center meeting last Friday, security plans submitted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were discussed.

Both the PNP and AFP are currently concerned with activities of the New People’s Army (NPA), particularly in remote areas of the province.

303rd Infantry Brigade commander, Colonel Benedict Arevalo, said the NPA has political intentions in the upcoming elections and has urged candidates to report if they are being extorted by the rebels.

Aside from Villanueva, the meeting was also attended by Bacolod City election supervisor, Atty. Mavil Majarucon-Sia; Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Romeo Baleros; and Arevalo.

The election period began yesterday and runs until June 12./DGB, WDJ