Negros Occidental poll areas of concern hit 18

BACOLOD CITY – The number of election areas of concern in Negros Occidental has increased to 18, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Binalbagan town, where suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels recently attacked policemen using landmines, was added to the list of areas of immediate concern, provincial Comelec supervisor Rodolfo Salazar said yesterday.

The roadside bombing in Barangay Bi-ao left two policemen wounded.

Salazar and acting Negros Occidental police director Col. Leo Pamittan did not identify the additional towns and cities classified as poll hotspots.

“Local government executives are very sensitive if their areas are tagged as election areas of concern,” Salazar said.

The town of Don Salvador Benedicto was earlier included in the list of areas of concern; Binalbagan, Himamaylan, Hinobaan, Kabankalan, Manapla, Silay, Toboso and Victorias as areas of immediate concern, and Candoni, Moises Padilla and Escalante City as areas of grave concern.

Lt. Abegael Donasco, provincial police deputy spokesperson, said additional personnel would be deployed to concerned areas.

There are three categories for the election watchlist areas: areas of concern, areas of immediate concern and areas of grave concern.

A town or city may be classified as an area of concern if it has a history of poll-related incidents and occurrence of intense political rivalries.

Areas of immediate concern are those known for the presence of NPA rebels and private armed groups, or both.

Areas of grave concern possess the combined aspects of areas of concern and immediate concern.