• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Almost two weeks before the Oct. 30 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, the election areas of concern (EACs) in Negros Occidental remains at 51.
Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria, who attended the Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center meeting held in Iloilo City on Oct. 17, said yesterday they will still closely monitor the EACs in Negros Occidental as the campaign period starts today, Oct. 19.
Of the 51 EACs, three barangays have been placed under the Red category, or grave areas of concern; 45 under the Orange category, or immediate areas of concern; and three villages under the Yellow category, or areas of concern.
The remaining 511 barangays are under the green category, or having no threats at all.
As the campaign period begins today, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded candidates to abide with its rules.
Ananoria urged candidates to engage in high level of campaign, stick to their platform of governance in campaigning, and not to engage in personal issues.
Before the start of the campaign period, the Comelec has issued 144 show-cause orders (SCOs) to candidates in Negros Occidental for premature campaigning.
Ananoria said that because of the issuance of SCOs, there has been minimal violations on postering of campaign materials by the candidates.
Up for grabs are 662 seats for the position of barangay captain in Negros Occidental, with 1,611 vying for the post.
In the race for barangay councilor, which has 4,634 seats available, 15,612 aspirants filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs).
There are 1,882 aspirants for the position of SK chairman, while 10,535 people filed COCs for the position of SK member, Comelec records showed. | GB
