Moises Padilla declared as ‘critical area’

THE Philippine Army with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police have declared Moises Padilla town to be on red alert status due to the recent violence reportedly carried out by the New People's Army (NPA).

Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Brigade based in Negros said that the army has adopted a color coding scheme of leveling the degree of the areas of concerns in the province in preparation for the May 13 midterm elections.

Arevalo said that all the elements are present in Moises Padilla which is labeled under red alert status.

He also revealed that from Orange status, Himamaylan City is also recommended to be in the red alert status because of the recent encounters in the area between government troops and the members of the NPA rebels. The military were also able to overrun three rebel camps in the area.

“Those areas that will be put under colored status areas could be considered having higher level of violence,” Arevalo said.

Most of the areas in the province the army commander said are in yellow and green status which means there is only minimal election-related violence reported.

Arevalo said that he met with the battalion commanders in the province over the weekend with the Comelec Provincial Supervisor and discussed the matter.

He also revealed the army despite that they don’t have enough manpower will also assist the Comelec in the delivery of election materials and paraphernalia in the different parts of the province.

Arevalo said that the election materials so far has not yet arrived in the province including the Voters Counting Machine.