CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna—The Police Regional Office 4A has identified 32 towns and cities and 50 barangays in the Calabarzon region as areas of concern in the coming May 14 Barangay and SK elections.
In a statement, Calabarzon Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said the 82 places were “election watchlist areas” or hotspots now under alert status by the Philippine National Police after the assessment coming from the different stations in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.
Eleazar said the assessment was based on history and “current intense rivalry” among the contending parties that could motivate people to engage in violent acts, employment of private armed groups, or proliferate loose firearms in the hands of unqualified individuals.
Areas were also classified according to serious armed threats posed by the New People’s Army and other rebel groups.
Based on PNP records, these areas of concern are Rosario, Tanza, Carmona, Maragondon and the cities of Trece Martires, Dasmariñas, Imus and Bacoor in Cavite.
In Laguna, the areas of concern are Calauan and the cities of San Pedro and San Pablo.
In Batangas, the towns of Bauan, Santa Teresita, Mataas Na Kahoy, Calaca, Calatagan, Nasugbu, Balayan, Tuy and Lian, and Tanauan City are listed.
The town of Rodriguez and Antipolo City in Rizal are also listed as areas of concern.
In Quezon province, the areas of concern are the towns of Lucban, Lopez, General Luna, San Francisco, General Nakar, Real, Mauban, Catanauan and Mulanay.
Eleazar said a city or municipality is classified as an area of concern if there were recent attacks against barangay officials or candidates, or where NPA rebels operate and were believed to be collecting “permit to campaign” fees.
In April alone, police records showed four attacks on barangay executives.
These were the killing of Barangay Bagtas Chair Leonilo Arbonida in Tanza, Cavite, on April 14; the killing of Barangay Anato Councilor Felix Arias Cabili in Pagbilao on April 21; and of Barangay Cambuga Chair Domingo Ruedas in Mulanay on April 7, both in Quezon province.
Also listed was the gun attack on Barangay Santiago Chair Mario Flores on April 20 in San Pablo City, Laguna.
Eleazar said more policemen will be deployed to the areas of concern if a police review of security situations called for it.
Between April 14 and April 30, police arrested 107 people for violation of the election gun ban and seized 81 firearms, 11 bladed weapons and a hand grenade.