9 more MM barangays in poll watchlist

MANILA, Philippines - Nine more barangays in Metro Manila were included in the list of “areas of concern” in connection with the Oct. 28 barangay elections, the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) said yesterday.

NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr. said the addition of nine barangays brings to 39 the total number of barangays placed in the list of “areas of concern” for possible outbreak of violence due to intense political rivalries.

In a report, Garbo said the nine barangays are 503 in Manila; 587 in Caloocan; Wawa in Valenzuela; Pineda in Pasig; Pio del Pilar in Makati; Sto. Domingo in Quezon City; Catmon and Navotas West in Navotas; and North Bay Boulevard South in Malabon.

Garbo ordered police units that cover areas of concern to beef up their security, initiate dialogues and institute other measures to prevent election-related violent incidents.

The NCRPO earlier said 30 barangays in Metro Manila have been listed as areas of concern for the Oct. 28 barangay polls. There are 1,704 barangays in the metropolis.

In Manila, these areas of concern are Barangays 130 and 131 in Tondo; 346 in Sta. Cruz; 679, 735 and 740 in Sampaloc; 190 in Abad Santos; 638 in Sta. Mesa; 727 in Malate; 836 in Pandacan and 290 in Binondo.

Other areas of concern are Barangays 144 and 97 in Pasay City; San Lorenzo, San Antonio and Carmona in Makati; Zapote in Las Pinas; Don Bosco, San Antonio, La Huerta, BF Homes, Baclaran, San Isidro, and San Dionisio in Parañaque.

Sucat in Muntinlupa City was also named an area of concern as well as Maharlika, South Signal, Central and Ususan in Taguig and Sta. Ana in Pateros.

The NCRPO released the latest assessment with days to go before the barangay elections nationwide as the Philippine National Police (PNP) clarified the apparent inconsistencies on reported election hot spots and areas of concern.

Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office chief, said Garbo has the prerogative to raise the level of alert and security assessment in Metro Manila.

Sindac added the NCRPO report on areas of concern was an updated assessment on the peace and security in Metro Manila compared to the reports of the Directorate for Intelligence (DI) presented to the Joint Security Council Committee recently.