The Commission on Elections (Comelec) placed 38 areas under the red category due to serious concerns or grave threats in preparations for the May 2025 midterm elections.
In a Viber message, Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said most of these areas under the “red category” are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The poll body classified these as areas of grave concern due to the presence of serious armed threats and a documented history of election violence.
Other regions with areas of great concern are Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.
Comelec also identified 177 areas under the orange category (with serious threats), 188 under yellow (with a history of election-related incidents), and 1,239 under green (or no security concerns).
The poll body has already directed the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to tighten security in the identified areas to ensure the safety of the public and peaceful conduct of the coming elections.
Areas placed under the ‘Red’ zone include the following:
LUZON/VISAYAS
- Jones and Maconacon, Isabela (Cagayan Valley)
- Baleno and Masbate City, Masbate (Bicol)
- Calinog, Iloilo (Western Visayas)
- Santa Margarita, Samar (Eastern Visayas)
BARMM
- Al-Barka, Basilan
- Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur
- Bacolod-Kalawi, Lanao del Sur
- Balindong, Lanao del Sur
- Binidayan, Lanao del Sur
- Buadiposo-Buntong, Lanao del Sur
- Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur
- Butig, Lanao del Sur
- Cotabato City
- Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte
- Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur
- Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur
- Datu Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur
- Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur
- Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Basilan
- Maguing, Lanao del Sur
- Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur
- Mangudadatu, Maguindanao del Sur
- Marantao, Lanao del Sur
- Marawi City, Lanao del Sur
- Marogong, Lanao del Sur
- Paglat, Maguindanao del Sur
- Pandag, Maguindanao del Sur
- Pualas, Lanao del Sur
- Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur
- Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur
- Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur
- South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur
- Sultan Barongis Lambayong, Maguindanao del Sur
- Tubaran, Lanao del Sur
- Tugaya, Lanao del Sur
