By JEN BAYLON

The 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) of the Philippine Army is intensifying security operations in Guihulngan City and La Libertad town, two areas in Negros Oriental designated under the Red Category due to the presence of New People’s Army (NPA) remnants and recent insurgency-related incidents.

Lt. Colonel Evelio Ilanga, 62IB commanding officer, explained that Guihulngan and La Libertad are under the highest watchlist category because of their history of insurgent activities.

Although the NPA is no longer considered a major threat, Ilanga said the battalion is still dealing with remnants of the dismantled Central Negros 1 guerrilla front, which also operates in parts of Negros Occidental.

This situation necessitates continued vigilance and security operations to ensure peaceful elections.

The red hotspot classification was prompted by a shooting incident involving an elected official in Guihulngan and the burning of heavy equipment in La Libertad earlier this year, both allegedly linked to NPA actions.

Despite these incidents, Ilanga reported that there have been no election-related atrocities or complaints about permit-to-campaign fees being collected by insurgents this election cycle, a practice noted in previous years.

In addition to the red hotspots, Negros Oriental has one area classified under the Orange Category, indicating the presence of armed groups.

Twenty-two others are under the Yellow Category, which denotes areas with a history of political unrest.

The Philippine Coast Guard has also deployed personnel to polling centers, especially in island and coastal barangays, and is conducting maritime patrols to ensure the secure transport of election materials and voters.

Ilanga assured that government forces are prepared for any eventuality, with troops assigned to serve both election security and counter-insurgency roles throughout the province./JB, WDJ