By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) confirmed yesterday that several areas in Negros Occidental will likely be placed under an election watchlist in preparation for the National and Local Elections in May of this year.

In an interview over DYHB RMN-Bacolod, PRO-6 director, Police Brigadier Gen. Flynn Dongbo, has not yet identified the local government units (LGUs) which will be placed under the elections watchlist.

LGUs placed under an election watchlist are areas which have been identified to have a history of either intense political rivalry, or areas which have a noted presence of both private armed groups and communist insurgents.

At present, Dongbo is hoping that the peace and order situation in the province will remain, and he also reminded the local police force in the province to remain neutral and not to side with any politicians.

Last month, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) also announced that they have identified two LGUs which are deemed as “hotspots” although their spokesperson, Police Lt. Abegael Donasco, refused to name the LGUs.

However, she did note that one of the LGUs is from the north, while another is a town located in the southern part of the province.

The election season in the country had already started last Sunday, January 9, following the declaration of a nationwide Commission on Elections gun ban.

The campaign period for national positions will begin next month, February 8, while local politicians will start campaigning on March 25./DGB, WDJ