THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is now monitoring three municipalities in Negros Occidental as possible election hot spots, the police official said Monday, March 4.
Police Brigadier General John Bulalaco, director of Police Regional Office - Western Visayas, said they are still validating the three areas, where he refused to name them.
“There are three municipalities here that maybe potential hot spots, but we are still validating it,” he said.
The PNP only monitored the presence of New People’s Army (NPA) as well as the historical records of the three areas.
“For now, I will not reveal the name of the municipalities because I might (be) offending the people in those areas, but they are our focus. All the rest, I consider Negros Occidental to be peaceful this coming elections,” he said.
Bulalacao said the area will be declared a hot spot if there’s an intense political rivalry, existence of private armed groups like the NPA and criminal gangs, and the history of the area in terms of election-related violence.
In previous years, the PNP monitored some cities in Negros Occidental due to the reported presence of armed men and election-related violence. (MAP)