23 Western Visayas towns tagged poll ‘areas of interest’

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – No town or city in Western Visayas is on the election watchlist, but police are monitoring at least 23 “areas of interest.”

“Our validation suggested that no area can be considered as EWAs (election watchlist areas),” Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz, Western Visayas police chief, said yesterday.

Diaz said records at the local joint security control center showed that despite political rivalry in some areas, it is not enough to disrupt the elections.

Police officials said areas of interest are those where tension or confrontation among the supporters of some candidates or presence of communist rebels were reported.

These are the towns of Oton, San Enrique, Alimodian, Concepcion, Estancia, San Dionisio and Bingawan, said Senior Superintendent Roderick Augustus Alba, Iloilo police chief.

In Aklan, the towns of Buruanga and Batan are being monitored, said Senior Superintendent John Mitchell Jamili, Aklan police chief.

Senior Superintendent Robert Rodriguez, Capiz police chief, said incidents of political rivalry were reported in the municipalities of Mambusao, Sapian, Maayon, Tapaz and President Roxas.

Rodriguez said there were sightings of New People’s Army rebels in Maayon, Tapaz, Sigma, Cuartero, Dao and Dumarao towns also in Capiz.

Superintendent Noel Lamsis of the Antique police said they are also monitoring San Remigio, Sibalom and Hamtic towns due to the presence of communist rebels.