ACTING Negros Occidental Provincial Election supervisor Salus Milagros Villanueva warned the public to strictly observe the gun ban as well as the establishment of a poll checkpoint at the start of the election period on Sunday, January 13.

Villanueva said the gun ban is until the end of the election period on June 12.

While they see a peaceful poll in the province as the majority of the candidates has no opponents, they want to make sure safe, peaceful and credible election here, she said.

She also said they are now trying to determine the “priority areas” in the province relative to the coming elections.

Villanueva Friday convened the Provincial Joint Security Control Center and led its first command conference.

“We want to ensure to have effective security plans for the coming elections,” she said.

Moreover, she said they will also determine the areas in the province that have intense political rivalries.

Earlier, the provincial police said they are monitoring five election hotspots in the province due to the reported presence of armed men and election-related violence.

These are the towns of Moises Padilla, Isabela, Toboso, and Salvador Benedicto, and E.B Magalona, based on the intelligence monitoring of the provincial office.

Meanwhile, Villanueva also reminded the public to take note of the calendar of activities in the coming elections.

The campaign period for candidates for senator and party-list groups participating is from February 12 to May 11, with campaigning prohibited on March 28 (Holy Thursday) and March 29 (Good Friday) while the campaign period for candidates for members of the House of Representatives and elective regional, provincial, city and municipal officials will run from March 30 to May 11.

Campaigning is prohibited from May 12 to 13, which is also the period for the liquor ban. The gun ban runs for the entire election period.