San Jose del Monte City, 7 Bulacan towns tagged as ‘areas of concern’ in May polls

CITY OF MALOLOS – One city and seven towns in Bulacan have been identified as  “areas of concern” for the May 9 elections, the local police said on Friday.

Region 3 police director Brigadier General Matthew Baccay said tan Jose del Monte City and Baliwag town are among the three cities and 14 towns in Central Luzon listed under “immediate areas of concern” where there are election related incidents and intense political rivalries.

Six towns in Bulacan – Marilao, Guiguinto, San Miguel, San Rafael, Doña Remedios Trinidad and San Ildefonso – are on the list of “areas of concern” along with 23 other municipalities and five cities in Central Luzon.

But Baccay said these qualifications do not preclude that there are ongoing atrocities in these areas but they are listed for pre-emptive purposes and precautionary measures.

“The intense rivalry for example is done through words, not armed,” Baccay told Inquirer in an interview.

He, however, said the region’s police force will be deployed and maximized to help ensure a peaceful and successful election on May 9.

Formerly referred to as “election hotspots,” election areas of concern are subdivided into four categories – green (no security concern), yellow (area of concern), orange (area of immediate concern), and red (area of grave concern).

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