MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday, December 29, listed 18 towns and cities as “areas of grave concern” in the 2019 midterm elections.

The PNP said towns and cities included in its list of hotspots fall under the “Category 3” classification. 

Category 3 areas have had incidents of election-related violence involving officials vying for elected posts. The PNP considered incidents which took place as far back as the filing of certificates of candidacy in October. 

The PNP classifies areas which have had violent incidents under 3 categories. 

Category 1 are places which have had incidences due to intense political rivalries.

Falling under Category 2 are areas which the PNP says have “serious armed threats” by “organized threat groups.” Examples of threat groups are the New People’s Army, the Bangsamoro Independent Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), among others.

Areas named in the PNP watchlist released Saturday may also have Category 1 and Category 2 factors. 

The PNP’s “areas of grave concern” are the following:

Ilocos Region

La Union
Sudipen
Balawan

Cagayan Valley

Isabela
Jones

Calabarzon 

Batangas
Emery

Mimaropa

Oriental Mindoro
Roxas

Bicol Region

Masbate
Balud
Dimasalang

Zamboanga Peninsula

Zamboanga del Sur
Pagadian City

Northern Mindanao

Misamis Oriental
Cagayan de Oro City

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Basilan
Hadji Mohammad Ajul
Lantawan
Tipo-Tipo

Lanao del Sur
Marawi City
Sultan Dumalondong

Maguindanao
Mamasapano
Shariff Aguak
Shariff Saydona Mustapha
Datu Unsay

The PNP added that areas in Category 3 may also be placed under Commission on Elections (Comelec) control, meaning the poll body will have direct supervision and control over local officials there.

Aside from this, the Comelec will also exercise “full control” over all national and local law enforcement agencies, as well as military officers assigned in the area. 

The Comelec earlier said it was considering placing Daraga, Albay, under Comelec control after AKO Bicol Representative Rodel Batocabe was killed and two bodies were found lifeless in the same town the day after.

Batocabe’s family believes local politics may have been the motive behind the slay. Batocabe was running for mayor of Daraga. – Rappler.com