Comelec to validate list of likely election hotspots
The Commission on Elections is now validating a list of potential hotspots for the 2025 midterm polls submitted by the Philippine National Police.
“The list will undergo validation by the joint security council headed by Comelec, which is empowered to declare election areas of concern,” PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said in a radio interview on Saturday.
“Definitely those that have validated election-related incidents are part of the list under the yellow category,” she said.
Other parameters being considered, Fajardo said, include intense political rivalry and the presence of private armed groups.
Fajardo, however, said the PNP will not yet release figures this early.
“The purpose of the validation is also to determine how many police would be fielded in areas of concern, and how many areas will be put under Comelec control,” Fajardo said.
In the 2022 presidential elections, Comelec placed 104 municipalities and 14 cities under the red category or areas of great concern, previously called election hotspots.
Areas tagged as green have no problem and no cause for concern while those tagged as yellow have a history of political unrest. Areas placed under the orange category are those where armed groups are present.
The PNP earlier said it is looking to implement the gun ban earlier to thwart election-related violence in the 2025 polls.
The gun ban may only be implemented during the campaign period, set to begin on January 12, 2025, but Comelec said it will “seriously consider” adjusting the implementation period.
The gun ban also covers controlled chemicals and explosives.
