The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental assured residents of security for the midterm polls after five local government units (LGUs) in the province were identified as areas of concern.
In a radio interview yesterday, Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said voters have nothing to worry about because there are uniformed personnel who will secure peace during the election process in every precinct.
Ananoria added that the security classification of areas has not yet been finalized.
Although there have been no recorded election-related incidents in Negros Occidental for several years, the Comelec-NegOcc said it is possible that recent encounters between the government troops and the New People’s Army (NPA) were the basis for them to classify localities as areas of concern.
The municipalities of Isabela and San Enrique were under the yellow category, indicating a documented history of election-related violence.
The localities have been previously declared under Comelec control.
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 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.
The provincial poll body will reassess the security situation of the province following the identification of areas of concern.
Ananoria said earlier that the reassessment is necessary to ensure that the classifications accurately reflect the current security situation.
Meanwhile, Comelec-NegOcc is not dismissing the capability of the NPA to disrupt the midterm elections, despite the Philippine Army’s assurance that the rebels no longer pose a threat.
Ananoria said they have not received reports of rebel groups trying to disrupt the May 12 polls./WDJ