PNP tags 7,915 villages as ‘election hotspots’

The Philippine National Police has drawn up an initial list of barangay “hotspots” or “areas of concern” that may be susceptible to violence in next year’s midterm elections.

In a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Monday, PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said a total of 7,915 barangays in 896 cities and municipalities in 72 provinces were considered “election hotspots,” just as they all were during the barangay elections in May.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao had the most number of hotspots with 1,415 barangays, followed by Bicol region with 1,304.

The Commission on Elections color-coded the same hotspots according to the threat of violence during the May polls: 2,325 barangays were placed under the “yellow” category, 4,971 under “orange” and 619 under “red.”

The ARMM had the most number of “red” hotspots with 419.

Albayalde said the list of “hotspots” was drafted because police Special Operations Task Groups would soon be deployed “to address election issues especially harassment, violent incidents and killings like what happened in La Union.”

Albayalde was referring to the gun attack last week that left Mayor Alexander Buquing of Sudipen, La Union, dead.