ELECTION WATCHLIST AREAS. Visayas Command chief Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo (left) attends the Multi-Sector Advisory Board meeting chaired by Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma (right) on Wednesday (March 30, 2023). Arevalo said the Visayas Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center placed 158 cities and municipalities under security risk assessment after being identified by the Commission on Election as Election Watchlist Areas (EWAs). (PNA photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY – The Visayas Command on Thursday said it would conduct a security risk assessment in 158 cities and municipalities placed under election watchlist areas (EWAs) in preparation for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls in October.
Viscom met with the Area Police Command-Visayas of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday to start laying down security plans for the upcoming elections.
Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, Viscom commander, said of the number of EWAs identified during the 1st quarter Visayas Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center meeting, 63 of them are in Central Visayas.
“Let us start assessing our EWAs, the private armed groups, and even the threats to our politicians. As we have learned, the threat to our politicians continues even after the election. So, they should be monitored not only before and during the election, but also even after the election,” Arevalo said in a statement.
Maj. Israel Galorio, Viscom public information officer, told the Philippine News Agency in an interview that the concentration of 63 EWAs in Central Visayas are in Negros Oriental due to recent violence that killed Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others.
A total of 37 areas in Western Visayas and 58 in Eastern Visayas were placed under EWAs.
Of the 158 areas, 40 have been categorized as “areas of concern” while 92 as "areas of immediate concern” and 26 as “areas of grave concern.”
Based on the classifications made by the Comelec, PNP, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, areas of concern are places with election-related incidents in the past two elections, with intense political rivalry, and with the presence of armed groups.
Areas of immediate concern are areas with the presence of the New People’s Army, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and other threat groups that may disrupt the upcoming elections, while areas of grave concern are those to have the presence of all elements.
Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10902, the election period will begin on August 28 until Nov. 29. The campaign period will be from Oct. 19 to 28 and the election day will be on Oct. 30. (PNA)
