By Mariela Angella Oladive
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has flagged 17 areas in Western Visayas as “areas of concern” for the upcoming 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE).
Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, head of the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC), announced the list during a press briefing.
The identified areas are classified into four risk categories—green, yellow, orange, and red—based on election-related security risks.
Green: Low Risk
Under Comelec Resolution No. 11067, green zones are considered low-risk, with no significant security concerns, ensuring a peaceful and orderly election process. A total of 116 localities in the region fall under this category.
Yellow: Moderate Risk
Yellow zones have a history of election-related incidents, political rivalries, or potential involvement of private armed groups. Seven areas in the region fall under this category:
- Iloilo: Ajuy, Lemery, San Dionisio
- Negros Occidental: Isabela, San Enrique
- Capiz: President Roxas
- Antique: Tobias Fornier
Orange: High Risk
Orange zones face more severe threats, including risks associated with armed groups such as communist insurgents, in addition to the factors seen in yellow zones. Nine areas are classified as orange:
- Iloilo: Badiangan, Janiuay, Leon, Maasin, San Joaquin
- Negros Occidental: Calatrava, Cauayan, Sipalay City
- Capiz: Tapaz
Red: Critical Risk
The red category indicates the highest level of risk, highlighting areas with a combination of election-related violence and significant threats from armed groups. Calinog, Iloilo, is the sole red-category area in Western Visayas, joining 37 other high-risk areas nationwide.
Calinog’s classification follows an election-related incident during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), where an encounter between communist insurgents and government troops occurred in Barangay Cahigon.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia noted that the list of areas of concern may change as the election approaches, depending on recommendations from local Joint Security Control Centers.
Authorities are intensifying efforts to ensure peaceful elections across the region.
The Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) has committed to building on lessons from previous elections, which were largely peaceful, according to spokesperson Lt. Col. Arnel Solis.
“We will not keep our guard down. We will ensure that the 2025 midterm elections will be peaceful and successful,” Solis said.
Efforts are underway to address risks in Calinog and downgrade its classification to a lower category.
“What we’re looking for here is, of course, we want to eliminate one factor so that we can effectively lower Calinog into the next lowest category, which is orange,” said Iloilo provincial election supervisor Rainier Layson.
The election period officially began on January 12, initiating a gun ban, restrictions on candidates hiring private security personnel, and other regulations.
National candidates are set to campaign from February 11 to May 10, while local candidates can campaign from March 28 to May 10.
Overseas voting will take place from April 13 to May 12, while local absentee voting is scheduled for April 28 to 30.
A liquor ban will be enforced on May 11, the day before Election Day on May 12.
Candidates must submit their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) by June 11.
