The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday released an initial list of 1,619 areas of concern for the May 12 midterm elections.
The list is divided into four categories—“red”, “orange”, “yellow”, and “green.”
Thirty-six areas are under the “red” category or areas with serious armed threats and history of election-related incidents, while 156 areas are under the “orange” category or areas with serious armed threats.
However, the number of “red” and “orange” areas so far are less than the recorded figure in January this year –177 “red” areas and 177 “orange” areas.
Under the “red” category, 30 are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) which include 20 towns in Lanao del Sur, nine in Maguindanao del Sur, and one in Basilan.
Other areas under the “red” category are one in Isabela, one in Masbate, two in Negros Oriental, one in Samar, and one in Lanao del Norte.
From 188 areas in January, there are now 194 areas under the “yellow” category or those with a history of election-related incidents.
Meanwhile, 1,256 areas are under the “green” category or those that are relatively peaceful and orderly, up from 1,239 areas in January.