By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) held a meeting with the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade as they continued their security preparations for the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Comelec-Negros Occidental elections supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said the evaluation of election watchlist areas (EWAs) in the province was the main agenda in the meeting.

The proposal to declare Himamaylan City as EWA is still subject for validation, following the massacre of four family members in the locality last week.

There were 17 areas in Negros Occidental declared as EWAs during the national elections in 2022.

It is currently being verified if the political situation in those areas remains the same.

With regards to the premature campaigning among local candidates, Ananoria said political aspirants are only allowed until they have filed a certificate of candidacy.

The local Comelec office has also recently concluded its election registration board hearing, but the finalization of cases involving double registrants is still ongoing./DGB, WDJ