By JEN BAYLON
Five local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental have been identified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as areas of concern for the 2025 midterm elections.
The municipalities of Isabela and San Enrique have been placed in the yellow category, indicating a documented history of election-related violence.
Comelec said areas under the yellow category had “occurrences of suspected election-related incidents in the last two elections and the existence of intense partisan political rivalry, provided that there was no participation of domestic terror groups.”
The localities have been previously declared under Comelec control.
“The Commission en banc, among others, may direct the augmentation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP] and the Philippine National Police [PNP] to the areas as the need arises,” the Comelec said.
Meanwhile, the towns of Calatrava and Cauayan, as well as Sipalay City, fall under the orange category due to monitored serious armed threats “posed by communist terrorist groups or other threat groups as may be declared.”
“The Comelec may direct the augmentation of AFP and PNP personnel as the need arises, and reshuffle the police force in such areas,” the poll body said.
The remaining 27 LGUs were categorized under the green category, which means the localities are free from any election-related threats.
No localities have been classified under the red category, which indicates that there is a presence of armed groups, or the LGU has a significant history of election-related violence.
In Western Visayas, Iloilo province’s Calinog town was the only LGU placed under the red category.
Seven LGUs in the region are under the yellow category and nine in orange.
Earlier, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) implemented a gun ban and liquor ban, which started on January 12, and will last until June 11, in line with maintaining security for the election period.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety of our citizens during this critical period,” NOCPPO spokesperson, Police Captain Judesses Catalogo said.
Authorities have also started setting up checkpoints nationwide, as part of the preparations for the May 12 national and local elections.
The Comelec said the “plain view doctrine” will be observed at the checkpoints.
This means motorists only need to lower their windows and turn on the lights inside their vehicles when passing through the checkpoints.
Two million registered voters in Negros Occidental are expected to cast their votes for the 2025 midterm elections, with 983,866 registered male and 1,025,698 female voters, the Comelec-Negros Occidental said.
Provincial election supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said the province is divided into seven legislative districts, which span 19 municipalities and 13 cities, including capital Bacolod City.
A total of 13,004 precincts, clustered into 2,484 voting centers, have been established to facilitate the voting process./JB, WDJ