Comelec tags 167 areas of concern

(UPDATE) THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday identified 167 cities and municipalities as areas of concern in connection with the upcoming national and local elections. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the 167 areas were classified as red, orange, yellow and green, depending on the peace and order situation of a particular town, city or province. The poll chief said that based on the March 11 update, 11 were placed under the red category or areas of grave concern, 50 were in the orange category (with serious threats), 41 were in the yellow category (with a history of election-related incidents) and 63 were in the green category with no security concerns. Two areas had no update. Topping the list of areas under the red category is the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region with eight, followed by Negros Oriental with two and Lanao del Norte with one. Garcia said the number could still increase or decrease in every category as the elections near. "We are closely monitoring the situation of the cities and municipalities placed under the areas of concern, in coordination with the Philippine National Police," he added. Garcia said some of the places may be removed from the red category to orange or yellow if the situation improves, while others may be moved from yellow to red. Garcia said that there is no area yet that has been placed under Comelec control. An area can be put under Comelec control if there is a history of or current intense rivalry among contending parties that could motivate people to engage in violent acts and incidents of politically motivated violence carried out by private armed groups or various rebel groups.