5 MM cities tagged as poll hotspots

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified at least five cities in Metro Manila as election hotspots, an official said yesterday.

The cities of Mandaluyong, Malabon, Caloocan, Pasay and Manila have been tagged as “yellow” hotspots, the lowest of four levels of hotspots, according to Director Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Office chief.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde earlier identified the five cities as yellow election “areas of con- cern” due to past electionrelated incidents listed by the Directorate for Intelligence.

The PNP earlier listed 701 towns and cities as election hotspots.

Of the number, 94 were listed as “red” or areas of grave concern, where intense political rivalries, armed groups and history of election-related violence are present.

A total of 382 are listed as “orange” or areas of immediate concern where there is serious threat from armed groups.

Meanwhile, 223 cities and towns, including the five Metro Manila cities, are coded yellow or deemed areas of concern category.

Eleazar said the situations in the five cities “are manageable. Just the same, all interventions available will be done by the NCRPO in coordination with other government agencies concerned to have a peaceful elections come May.”

Observers noted that in Mandaluyong City, incumbent Mayor Menchie Abalos is running unopposed while no intense rivalry was monitored among candidates in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Manila and Pasay.

Eleazar expressed confidence that the May polls would be peaceful and orderly with at least 14,000 police officers deployed to secure voting precincts.

He threatened to impose severe sanctions on police officers who show they favor certain candidates.