AREA OF CONCERN. Policemen assigned in Calbayog City prepare for deployment in this photo taken on May 8. Calbayog City is one of the areas of grave concern in Samar Island due to intense political rivalry and presence of private armies. (Photo by Calbayog City police)
TACLOBAN CITY -- Two days before Election Day, the government is stepping up security patrol in 11 towns in the Samar provinces that are under the red category or areas of grave concern.
In a press briefing Friday afternoon, Commission on Elections (Comelec) 8 (Eastern Visayas) Director Rafael Olaño said more police and military personnel have been deployed to these areas to secure the mid-term elections on Monday.
“Identification of these areas is a product of joint coordination of Comelec, police, and army based on election history, present situation, intense political rivalries, presence of private armed groups, and threats of communist rebels,” Olaño told reporters.
These areas are Calbayog City, Matuguinao, San Jorge, and San Jose de Buan in Samar; Bobon, Catarman, Mondragon, Lope de Vega, San Isidro, Silvino Lobos, and Victoria in Northern Samar.
Of the 8,710 policemen and soldiers assigned to secure the elections in Eastern Visayas, 1,935 were sent to Samar and 1,509 were deployed in Northern Samar.
The Comelec asked policemen and army troops assigned to areas of grave concern to escort teachers bringing vote counting machines and ballots to polling precincts to prevent any attempt to derail the elections.
During the send-off ceremony on Wednesday, Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division’s Brig. Gen. Eliezer Lozañes said securing elections in the region has been very challenging with the presence of communist rebels, activation of private armies, and intense political rivalries in some areas.
“The task that lies ahead is not easy for Region 8 for it has long been blemished with election hotspots due to the proliferation of guns, goons, and gold nurtured by some politicians. It is more difficult given that the New People’s Army terrorists are expected to make their presence as we approach Election Day,” Lozañes told the augmentation force.
On top of the 11 towns, the poll body and security agencies also identified 39 areas of immediate concern (orange category).
These areas are Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte; Albuera, Baybay, Burauen, Carigara, Hilongos, Jaro, Macarthur, Mahaplag, San Isidro, and Villaba in Leyte; Basey, Calbiga, Catbalogan, Gandara, Hinabangan, Jiabong, Marabut, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, Sta. Margarita, and Villareal in Samar. Arteche, Balangkayan, Borongan, Maydolong, and Can-avid in Samar; Catubig, Gamay, Laoang, Lapinig, Las Navas, Lavezares, Mapanas, Palapag, Pambujan, Rosario, and San Roque in Northern Samar.
Towns and cities are placed under the orange category due to the occurrence of suspected election-related incidents in the last two elections, existence of intense political rivalry; possible employment of partisan armed group by the candidates in the area; the occurrence of politically motivated election-related violence in the current election period.
Election-related violence in areas under the orange category is not perpetrated by terror groups. (PNA)
