PNP tags 37 election hotspots

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified at least 37 election hotspots in the run-up to the 2025 midterm polls, according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

In a television interview yesterday, Remulla said that of the 37 election hotspots, 28 areas were located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“We have (election hotspots) in the third and fourth districts of Leyte. We have in Central Luzon (but) lower compared to the (number of election hotspots) before,” he said, adding that the government does not expect a violent election.

At the same time, Remulla said efforts are now being made to ensure that the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita program of the government will not be used for vote buying.

“It is a continuous program so it’s up to the (House) Speaker and the Comelec (Commission on Elections) to talk about what’s not allowed and prohibited but as of now they are still authorized until February for the disbursement. It is not yet the official campaign. It is prohibited starting Feb. 1,” he added.

Remulla said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is encouraging all officials to start exclusion proceedings after the Comelec noted that barangay certificates are being used to increase voting population.

“They can go to the Comelec, research it and file so that we can investigate the barangay captains in collusion with the DILG officers to transfer the voters, so we are still in the investigation side,” he said.