THIRTY-SEVEN areas have been initially identified as hotspots or areas of concern for next year’s midterm elections, Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said yesterday.
In a television interview, Remulla said 28 of these areas are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM).
“We have 37 hotspots, 28 of which are in BARRM. There are also (hotspots) in the 3rd and 4th districts of Leyte and Central Luzon,” said Remulla in Filipino.
“It’s lower compared to before but generally, we don’t expect violent (mid-term) elections,” said Remulla.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo confirmed they have an initial list of the “potential election areas of concern.”
Fajardo said this was discussed during a recent National Peace and Order Council.
“We showed the initial list of the potential election areas of concern but we cannot give for now the figures and the areas because this is subject to validation of the JPSCC (Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council),” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said she could not release the figures without clearance from concerned authorities.
She said additional policemen may be deployed in areas that are validated to be election areas of concern.
“Definitely, this would be considered for purposes of increasing our deployment in these areas,” said Fajardo.
