Negros Oriental authorities bare 62 brgys as poll watchlist areas

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Elections and the police in Negros Oriental have initially listed 62 barangays in the province as election watchlist areas (EWAs), a month before the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

The number of EWAs identified this year is doubly higher than in 2016, when there were only 34 barangays, records from the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO) showed.

Barangays now placed under the election watchlist are mostly located in northern Negros Oriental, such as Guihulngan, Canlaon, Bais and Tanjay cities, and those in the towns of La Libertad and Pamplona.

Some towns in the south, such as Siaton and Sta. Catalina, also have barangays classified as election hotspots.

NORPPO Director Senior Superintendent Edwin Portento told The Freeman that many of the barangays in their watchlist are where New People's Army (NPA) rebels stay and operate.

However, Comelec Negros Oriental election supervisor Eddie Aba said the 62 is only an initial figure. "Duna tay initial 62 barangays, but we can only determine the final list once we are finished with the filing of COCs kay makita na man nato kung kinsa ang mga kandidato," Aba told reporters.

While the election watchlist areas increased this year, police have not yet recorded incidents of the gun ban violation since it was implemented on Saturday, April 14.

For his part, Aba said that security will be further tightened in the province for the entire election period. "Barangay elections are more localized. In most areas in the province, (we are expecting) intense rivalry; practically it would be a contest between two or more families or clans," he said.

Aba also noted that voter turnout during barangay elections is "higher" compared to the national and local elections, which is also one reason for the tighter security in Negros Oriental. He added that the Comelec together with the police will continue to hold checkpoints regularly and at random as part of their implementation of the election gun ban.

Meanwhile, 669 hopefuls filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) in the province on the first day of filing last Saturday, Comelec data showed.

San Jose town recorded the highest number of filers on the first day, with 14 running for barangay captain and 77 running for barangay councilman.

La Libertad, with seven, had the most filers for SK chairman, while Ayungon, with 12, had the highest number of filers for SK members.

These, along with hundreds of others who will be filing their COCs until Friday, are hoping to win one of the 4,456 positions up for grabs in 557 barangays in Negros Oriental. (FREEMAN)