AN OFFICIAL of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao over the weekend said the police national headquarters has narrowed down the 35 areas considered as election "hotspot" in the region to five.

PRO-Northern Mindanao spokesperson Superintendent Surki Serenas said the regional command has endorsed some 35 towns and cities considered as poll "hot spot" in the May elections.

But, he said Camp Crame trimmed it down to only five and they will make it public once available.

"35 kabuok areas atong gi-recommend pero nahimo na lang og 5 siguro after validation nakita nga ang uban dili election-related so ilang gi-narrow down to 5," Serenas said.

Serenas could not yet confirm the category of the five areas.

He reiterated the parameters why an area is being considered an election hot spot which include intense political rivalry, presence of armed groups and election-related violence.

Serenas said areas considered as poll "hot spot" are classified into five: areas of no security concern (green), areas of concern (yellow), areas of immediate concern (orange), areas of grave concern (red), and Comelec-controlled area.

"Wala pa ta kabalo kung aha ani na-classify ang lima ka areas sa region 10 kay ato pang gihulatan ang list," Serenas said.

Serenas said being figured in the list of election "hot spot" may have a negative effect especially for the local chief executives and an additional work for the government security forces on the other hand.

"Sa local chief executives murag dili sila ganahan kay aside sa stigma naa pud mga restrictions sa ila and for us is dugang trabaho para sa security," he added.