Mindanao to be placed under Comelec control

MANILA, Philippines — The entire Mindanao aside from Abra as well as Jones town in Isabela and Lope de Vega in Northern Samar have been added to the list of election hotspots under category red by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“The category red classification may warrant the declaration of Comelec control over the areas,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said yesterday.

Jimenez said the declaration was due to security threats and election-related incidents in two previous elections.

Jimenez said there is also a reported presence of armed groups such as the New People’s Army, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Abu Sayyaf, Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front in areas under category red.

He said the poll body might order the augmentation of police and military personnel as the need arises.

The Comelec had earlier placed Daraga in Albay and Cotabato City under Comelec control.

There are four categories under the Comelec’s current system of classification.  

Under category green are areas with no security concern while under category yellow are those with a history of election-related violence or intense partisan political rivalry without the participation of local terrorist groups.

Areas with a history of violent incidents and intense partisan political rivalry and armed threats posed by local terrorist groups are under category orange.

Category red are areas where factors of category orange and threats posed by armed groups under category yellow exist.