• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
All the 25 towns and cities in Negros Oriental have been tagged as “areas of concern” by the Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Center for the May 12 elections, based on the report of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Comelec-Negros Island Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano said yesterday that Guihulngan City and La Libertad are under the red category while Basay City is listed in orange category.
The rest are under the yellow category, he added.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) employs a four-tier color-coded system to classify election concerns, namely the yellow category for areas with history of election- related incidents; orange for areas with serious armed threats; red category for areas with serious armed threats and history of election-related incidents; and green category for areas without election-related security concerns.
During the 2023 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, Negros Oriental was placed under the Comelec control, following the assassination of then Governor Roel Degamo.
The politically-motivated attack in Pamplona claimed 10 lives, including Degamo’s, and injured 17 others.
He said the 22 towns and cities in Negros Oriental were placed under the yellow category since the province was placed under the Comelec control in the previous elections.
The present peace and order situation of Negros Oriental is “so far, so good”, Castillano said, adding that they have not received reports on the presence of armed groups.
He also said there is no indication that the New People’s Army will sabotage the upcoming polls.
Last month, about 200 police personnel from Police Regional Office-Central Visayas in Cebu were dispatched to Negros Oriental for election-related activities and disaster related-operations as a result of Kanlaon Volcano eruption in Dec. 9 last year.
Castillano said they need 200 more, but they will try to make do with what has been provided to ensure a peaceful and orderly elections in Negros Oriental.
He also reported that Candoni town in Negros Occidental has been placed under the orange category due to serious armed threats while the remaining 31 towns and cities of Negros Occidental as wells as the six towns in Siqujior are under the green category.
The Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center (RJSCC) of Negros Island Region will hold a meeting on Wednesday (March 19) at the 302nd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.
Castillano said the RJSCC will deliberate the recommendations made by the PJSCCs of Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Siquijor, especially on areas of concerns, for approval before forwarding these to the Comelec central office. | GB
