(Eagle News)–The Philippine National Police has identified 701 election hotspots, as the campaign period for candidates seeking national posts kicked off on Tuesday, Feb. 12.
According to PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde, the figure represents 42 percent of the country’s 1,634 cities and municipalities.
Albayalde said all in all, there were 223 election areas of concern (yellow areas), 382 areas of immediate concern (orange areas), and 94 areas of grave concern (red areas).
According to Albayalde, areas under the yellow category are those that have histories of election-related violence, intense political rivalry and those that were declared under Commission on Elections control previously.
There are serious armed threats, on the other hand, in areas under the orange category, while areas under the red category combine both elements of the orange and yellow ones.
Albayalde said of the 94 areas of grave concern, 27 are in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; 19 in the Bicol region; seven in Calabarzon and another seven in Western Mindanao; six in Mimaropa and another six in Western Visayas; and five were in Northern Mindanao.
Albayalde said there were four areas of grave concern in Soccsksargen and Cordillera each; three in Eastern Visayas; two in Central Luzon and another two in Davao region; and one in Caraga and another in Cagayan Valley.
“The PNP is seriously considering some adjustments in our projected deployment of police units and personnel for election duties,” Albayalde said.
The campaign period for national candidates will run until May 11.
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