Nearly all precincts open in ARMM, region with most election hotspots

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said nearly all polling precincts in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the region with the most number of election hotspots, have been confirmed to have opened on time on Monday.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said only the opening of polling precincts in Bacolod-Kalawi; Binidayan, Maguindanao; Masiu, Maguindanao, and Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi have not yet been confirmed as of press time due to communication problems.

In a press briefing in the morning of the 2018 Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, Jimenez said, “Except (for these areas), all precincts are open in the ARMM. The problem why I cannot confirm the opening of precincts is that we are having difficulty connecting with the officers there. Nagkakaroon kami ng cell site problems.”

“But we are coursing our communications with the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), so we should be able to give an update,” he said.

ATM: COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez holds a press conference at the Centralized #BSKE2018 Command Center. pic.twitter.com/5oMTetnbil

— COMELEC (@COMELEC) May 13, 2018

Earlier this month, the Philippine National Police (PNP) identified 7,638 election hotspots across the country.

The PNP classified 597 of these as red hotspots, meaning that the situation in these areas is “critical.” Out of the 597 red hotspots, 438 are located in the ARMM.
The red classification implies that an area has a history of election-related violence. It is also a place where armed and rebel groups can be found.

READ: Comelec bares election hotspots for 2018 barangay, SK polls

Meanwhile, the Comelec official said local Comelec offices confirmed a seamless kick off of election day operations in the following regions: Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

“The situations in those regions are nominal, they’re okay,” Jimenez said. “As far as the other regions are concerned, the reports are still coming in.” /vvp