By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) has identified two local government units (LGUs) as election hotspots for the 2022 National and Local Elections.

NOCPPO spokesperson Police Lt. Abegael Donasco refused to name the two LGUs, although she noted one LGU is a city located in the northern part of the province while the other is a town located in the south.

The reason why she refused to identify the two is due to continuing validation on the LGUs, she said.

Donasco said the two LGUs were classified as hotspots because of the presence of both private and insurgent armed groups.

She also explained that it could still change based on evaluations that are being carried out, and so far the previously identified hotspots during 2019 elections are not included in the list.

Donasco also said that NOCPPO has issued a recall of all police officers who are serving as close-in bodyguards to the politicians in accordance with the request coming from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

However, she added NOCPPO director Police Colonel Romy Palgue has allowed to retain police escorts among the local politicians as long as they have a legitimate reason./DGB, WDJ

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