By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Police Regional Office 6 has identified 11 towns in Western Visayas as election areas of concern.
Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, PRO-6 director, said the list includes only towns and component cities in Panay and Guimaras islands.
Under the Yellow category, or areas of concern, are Tobias Fornier in Antique; President Roxas in Capiz; and Ajuy, Lemery and San Dionisio in Iloilo.
Under the Orange category, or areas of immediate concern, are Tapaz in Capiz and Janiuay, Alimodian, Maasin, San Joaquin and Badiangan in Iloilo.
“We no longer included Negros Occidental in the list owing to the establishment of the Negros Island Region,” Wanky said.
Calinog town in Iloilo, previously under the Red category or area of grave concern, was removed from the list following the latest assessment.
Wanky said the towns included in the Election Areas of Concern list were evaluated by the Municipal and Provincial Joint Security Control Centers.
“The list was recommended and approved by the Regional Joint Security Control Center,” he added.
The RJSCC is chaired by the Commission on Elections, with the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine Coast Guard as members.
In an earlier report, Calinog was the only area under the Red category.
Meanwhile, 90 towns and cities are classified under the Green category, indicating no security concerns and a relatively peaceful and orderly situation.
Before an area is placed under a specific category, it must meet certain parameters.
These include the presence of intense partisan political rivalry without involvement of domestic terror groups; possible use of partisan armed groups by candidates; or serious armed threats from the Communist Terrorist Group or other groups such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Maute Group, Abu Sayyaf Group, or any similar declared threat group.
