4 cities, 6 towns tagged election watchlist areas

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines —  Four cities and six municipalities in Negros Oriental were identified as election watch-list areas (EWAs), which will be under close monitoring until the May 9 elections, according to the Comelec provincial office.

The EWAs list was released Thursday after the Philippine National Police identified last December the province of Negros Oriental as among the six priority “election hotspots” in the country in the coming polls.

Named in the list were Guihulngan and Canlaon cities, and Jimalalud and La Libertad towns, all in the first district; Tanjay City and Pamplona town in the 2nd district; and Bayawan City, and Siaton and Sta. Catalina towns in the 3rd district.

According to Provincial Election Supervisor Eddie Aba, the consolidated watchlist of the PNP, the Philippine Army and other government security forces was formally approved during a seminar/workshop Thursday of the Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Council held at the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office in Sibulan.

Aba said among the common parameters in placing these towns and cities under EWAs were the presence of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army, election-related violent incidents in the past elections, and intense political rivalry.

The Comelec official, however, cautioned that the final EWAs in Negros Oriental could change any time, with certain areas to be possibly removed from it while others recommended for inclusion.

From time to time, the Comelec and the PJSCC will be updating and assessing areas in the province and there might be changes before the elections, said Aba.

More security preparations will be given to these EWAs, said Aba, adding that this did not mean that other areas not in the list would not be provided with similar attention and monitoring.

The police and the military in the province, being deputized agencies of the poll body, would have to make recommendations to the Comelec-Negros Oriental for approval regarding the deployment of troops, security personnel and other requirements, Aba said.

Aba further admitted that, in his personal opinion, election-related violence is “most likely to happen” in Negros Oriental. “This is the very reason why we are intensifying our security preparations,” he added.  (FREEMAN)