DESPITE the killing of a community organizer in the town, Brigadier General Inocencio Ferrer, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said that Hinoba-an is unlikely to be included in the list of red areas in Negros Occidental for the upcoming May elections.
Ferrer said the killing of Ulysses Mahinay, 48, occurred before the election period.
Mahinay was sitting on his motorcycle when attacked by an unidentified gunman on a motorcycle on January 6.
Hinoba-an Mayor Ernesto Estrao had said the killing could have been politically motivated being an active organizer of Partido Asenso Hinoban-on (PAH) in the town.
Meanwhile, during the joint Provincial Security Control Center (JPSCC) meeting on Thursday, January 27, the Philippine Army, Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Philippine National Police identified Moise Padilla and the city of Escalante as "red areas."
Ferrer said these areas have election-related incidents in 2019 although in their upcoming meeting next month, they will re-access if these areas will remain on the list or will be delisted.
He said they will come up with a joint decision depending on the situation.