• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Ray Ruiz said April 23 that Candoni in Negros Occidental remains peaceful despite the encounter between government forces and communist rebels in November last year.
He dismissed the clash as an “isolated incident”.
The Commission on Elections has recommended that Candoni be placed under the orange category because of serious armed threats.
Although he has some questions why Candoni should be an area of concern during the May 12 elections, Ruiz said he would welcome the recommendation.
The mayor said “it is okay with him” since the authorities would just want to ensure the peaceful conduct of elections in the southern Negros town.
The 31 other local government units in Negros Occidental, including the highly-urbanized Bacolod City, have remained under the green category, or with no election-related security concerns.
The encounter in Sitio Cogon, Barangay Gatuslao on Nov. 24, 2024 claimed the lives of six New People’s Army rebels, with no injury on the government side. | GB
