THE City Council of Cagayan de Oro has passed a resolution urging the Philippine National Police (PNP) to reconsider the declaration of Cagayan de Oro as among the 18 "election hotspots" in the country.
Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. said Cagayan de Oro tagged as an election hotspot will affect the city's investment, tourism industry and economy in general.
"Kung titingnan natin, makahatag ni og bad image sa Cagayan de Oro. Halimbawa, yung mga investors na gusto mag-invest, pag-alam nila na hotspot ang Cagayan de Oro, so mawawala yung gana nila na mag invest dito sa ating lugar," Lao said.
He added there were advisories from different embassies that warn the citizens to avoid visiting the city due to being one of the election hotspots in the Philippines.
"Apektado rin ang buong Northern Mindanao dahil ang Cagayan de Oro is the center of trade and commerce. Dito lahat pumupunta para bibili, dito lahat pupunta para magbenta o i-market ang kanilang produkto at dito rin pumupunta yung gustong mag transport ng kanilang produkto," Lao said.
"Ang ating economy would also be affected because of that declaration," he added.
Cagayan de Oro City was classified under Category 3, which groups areas that have had incidents of election-related violence involving officials vying for elective posts.
The election-related violence the police considered are those incidents that took place during the filing of certificates of candidacy in October 2018.
However, Lao said that Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao spokesperson Superintendent Surki Sereñas mentioned that the incidents are not political or election-related cases.
"Mao na nga gihangyo nato ang Comelec (Commission on Elections) ug ang PNP national headquarters sa dali nga panahon nga ilang mareconsideran ang pagdeclarar ang Cagayan de Oro as election hotspot," Lao said.
The city is the only area in Northern Mindanao that was placed under election hotspot.
Areas in Category 3 may also be placed under Comelec control, meaning the poll body will have direct supervision and control over local officials there.