THE province of Abra and the town of Lubuagan in Kalinga are still considered grave areas of concern while the towns of Sadanga, Bontoc and Sagada in Mountain Province were downgraded to orange category as per recommended by the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC).
Police Brigadier General Israel Ephraim Dickson, Police Regional Office (PRO)-Cordillera regional director, said Tabuk City in Kalinga which was initially categorized red was also downgraded.
“These towns were downgraded based on parameters that there should be intense political rivalry but the PJSCC recommended or inform us that there is no intense political rivalry in those areas,” said Dickson.
The police general added the Philippine National Police (PNP) is ready to secure and escort the vote counting machines (VCMs) which arrived in Baguio on April 17 and 18.
Bauko and Tadian, also in Mountain Province did not fall into the parameters to be categorized as red, according Dickson.
Despite threats of the New People’s Army, he added it does not fall as areas of grave concern.
Dickson stated the Armed Forces of the Philippines 5th and 7th Division and PNP are always in close coordination with one objective to defeat the said lawless elements fighting against the government.
The intention of the enemies not applicable of what is happening today, he added.
Given the assistance of the PNP, Philippine Army and Commission on Elections (Comelec) personnel, the police general called for this year’s national and local election voters to exercise their right of suffrage and not be influenced by acts of vote buying.
Comelec may order the augmentation of police and members of AFP in areas under Category red election hotspot.