Malong: Monitoring and validating is still ongoing

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) yesterday identified several “election hotspot” areas in Negros Occidental. However, PRO-6 spokesperson, Police Superintendent Joem Malong, explained the list is still not final and they are still monitoring and validating areas across the province.

She explained localities are split into various categories. The yellow category indicates areas where there is a heated rivalry between rival political groups; an orange designation means there is a notable presence of armed rebel groups in the area; and red signifies both.

Earlier, Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division commander, Major General Dinoh Dolina, expressed concerns over the possibility of politicians using New People’s Army (NPA) rebels as “goons.”

According to Dolina, based on historical monitoring, some politicians in Negros have used the NPA in the past and would be given a “permit to campaign” and “permit to win.”

In terms of the terror group’s impact on the province, he said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) are constantly updating their areas of concern, areas of immediate concern, and areas of no concern.

He cited Guihulngan City, in Negros Oriental, as an “area of immediate concern.”

However, Dolina assured the AFP is always ready in securing the elections and making it peaceful./DGB, WDJ