Three villages in Negros Occidental have been identified as areas of grave concern due to the monitored presence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army will be tightly secured for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 30.

These include Calatrava town’s Barangay Minapasuk in the north and Barangays Quintin Remo and Macagahay of Moises Padilla town in central Negros.

Colonel Leo Pamittan, provincial director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said the three villages are part of the updated election areas of concern validated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine Army.

“These barangays have the presence of [a] communist-terrorist group. That is the reason why. Nonetheless, we have nothing to worry about since we have this [under] control. We hope we will not reach the point that they will be placed under Comelec control. As of now, it is manageable,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Provincial Joint Security Control Center meeting at the Negros Residences yesterday.

Pamittan said while there is insurgency concern, they have not monitored intense political rivalry in the three villages.

He added that both the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will make those in the “red” category or areas of grave concern a priority for the deployment of security personnel, especially the quick reaction forces.

“We will not discount the possibility that the elections will be disrupted because of the presence of the communist-terrorist group,” he added.

Provincial election supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said there were still 51 identified election watchlist areas in Negros Occidental.

Of the 51, three are listed under the yellow category or areas of concern, while 45 are under orange or areas of immediate concern.

“We have the same election hotspots as before. We are just discussing the guidelines on [security] deployment,” he added. (PNA)