Poll hot spots
THE question of election violence lies at the doorsteps of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and its partner law enforcement agencies, notably the police and the military.
The poll body and its deputies are now being called upon to ensure the holding of free, honest, peaceful and credible Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Thus, the leadership of the powerful Philippine National Police (PNP) has come out with a list of “election hot spots” for the non-partisan village and SK elections on October 30.
The list has four categories — red, orange, yellow and green — according to the Philippine National Police (PNP), which is civilian in nature but national in scope.
Of the country’s more than 42,000 barangays, 249 are under the so-called “red category.” These villages are considered “areas of grave concern,” the police agency said.
In a press briefing Friday, PNP deputy chief for opetations Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria said 1,344 and 1.010 villages are under the orange and yellow categories, respectively.
People are made to believe that the rest of the villages are under the green category. These areas do not have security concerns and are generally peaceful and orderly.
Those under the yellow category are those that have a history of poll-related incidents, while those under the orange category are areas with serious armed threats.
The PNP and the Armed Forces of the Phtilippines would soon convene the National Joint Security Control Center to reconcile their records regarding the poll hot spot list.
Without doubt, the Comelec, chaired by George Erwin Garcia, is doing a great job in ensuring the holding of free, honest, peaceful and credible BSK elections on October 30.
