'Election areas of concern' in Central Luzon named

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga Police Regional Office III Director Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay disclosed on Wednesday that some 51 areas in Central Luzon are listed as election areas of concern and election immediate areas of concern.

Among those identified by police under election areas of concern include the City of San Fernando and the towns of Mexico and Apalit in

Pampanga. In Nueva Ecija, the identified areas of concern are Palayan City, San Jose City and Cabanatuan City, the towns of Cabiao, Cuyapo, Carranglan, Gabaldon; Gen. Tinio, Guimba, Laur, Licab, Llanera, Lupao, Nampicuan, Pantabangan, Penaranda, Quezon, Rizal, San Isidro, Sta. Rosa, Talugtog and Zaragosa.

Olongapo City in Zambales and Mariveles town in Bataan are also classified areas of concern. The towns of Marilao, San Miguel, Guiguinto, San Rafael, Dona Remedios Trinidad and San Ildenfonso, all in Bulacan province, are also under this classification.

Meanwhile, election areas of immediate of concern include San Jose Del Monte, Baliuag, both of Bulacan; Gapan City; Munoz City and the towns of Aliaga; Bongabon; Gen. Natividad; Jaen; San Antonio; San

Leonardo; Sto. Domingo; and Talavera, all in Nueva Ecija; Maria Aurora town and Limay, Bataan; Camiling in Tarlac and the towns of Botolan and San Felipe, both in Zambales.

Formerly called “election hotspots,” these areas of concern first submitted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to the Comelec are still being “counterchecked” by the poll body’s field offices.

Baccay said the election hotspots were categorized and color-coded based on a set of par amet er s.

Of the total 116 municipalities and 14 cities in the region, there are 29 towns and five cities classified as election areas of concern or under the yellow category, while 14 towns and three cities are election areas