WITH the barangay elections less than three weeks away, the police have identified 44 barangays considered election watch-list areas (EWAS).
Five of these barangays were classified election area of immediate concern, where violence may likely erupt.
Supt. Pablo Labra II of Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said the presence of rebels and intense political rivalry caused these barangays to be classified as EWAS.
One of the areas of immediate concern is Barangay Punta Engaño in Lapu-Lapu City because of a 2010 shootout that resulted in the death of a candidate’s driver and delayed the elections for three hours.
Immediate concern
In Bohol Province, Barangay Yanawa in Bilar town, Barangay Cawag in Buenavista town, and Barangay Cuaming belonged to the same category.
Barangay Canlambo in Larena, Siquijor Province is the fifth area of immediate concern.
Labra said the barangays listed under EWAS in Cebu Province were affected by intense political rivalry. He said the number could still go up after the filing of candidacy.
In Cebu Province, EWAS areas are: Barangays Pitalo, Panadtaran, Bugho, Tongo in San Fernando town; Poblacion and Sima in Dumanjug town; Sumon and Candabong in Tuburan town; and barangays Cantubaon and Caduangon in Tabuelan town.
Deployment
Labra, acting chief of PRO 7's Regional Intelligence Division (RID), said they will start deploying police personnel on Oct. 20, in preparation for the Oct. 28 barangay elections.
He said the police want to make sure that elections will be peaceful.
The EWAS will serve as basis for the deployment of police personnel during elections. The city and provincial police directors will prioritize EWAS areas.
Twenty-eight out 44 barangays listed as EWAS are in Negros Oriental due to the presence of rebels.
These barangays are: Trinidad, Hinakpan, Tacpao, Banwague, Sandayao, Bino-bohan, Humayhumay, Planas, Buenavista, Calupaan, Imelda, Villegas, Platagasanon, Linantuyan, Luz and Magsaysay in Guihulngan City; Bonawon, Apoloy, Mantiquil, Tayak in Siaton; Dobdob in Valencia town; Sto. Niño in Tanjay City.
Barangays Talalak, Nagbinlod, Milagrosa, Nagbalaye, San Pedro and Fatima in Sta. Catalina are also considered EWAS.