The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has released the updated summary list of election areas of concern ahead of the May 2025 midterm polls.
The country’s election areas of concern classification has four categories: green, yellow, orange, and red.
Green refers to areas that do not have security concerns and are generally peaceful and orderly.
Areas classified yellow have a history of election-related incidents in the last two elections, possible employment of private armed groups, and the occurrence of election-related incidents.
Orange category is those areas of immediate concern where there are serious armed threats.
Red, meanwhile, refers to areas with grave concern with combined factors under the yellow category and serious armed threats.
The poll body may also consider putting these areas under Comelec control.
There were areas previously placed under orange category which are now under the red category as of yesterday.
From the total number of 38 areas under the red category, it now went down to just 36.
Some areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are now placed under the red category. These include Piagapo in Lanao del Sur, while in Maguindanao del Sur, the Comelec identified Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak, Datu Paglas and Sultan Mastura.
Cotabato City in Maguindanao del Norte is also now under the red category and Hadji Mohammad Ajul in Basilan.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said they will conduct another peace and order situation assessment nationwide when the official campaign period for local candidates kicks off on March 28.
Other areas
In the Negros Island Region, Guihulngan City and La Libertad, which were previously placed under the orange category, are now also put under the red category by the commission.
Meanwhile, based on Comelec’s Areas of Concern list, areas under the “orange’ category dropped from 177 in January to just 156 this March.
There are now more areas under the “yellow” and “green” categories, said the commission.
From 188 areas in January 2025, there are now 194 areas under the “yellow” category in March 2025.
As for the “green” category, the 1,239 areas in January 2025 have climbed to 1,256 areas for March 2025. (ABS-CBN News)