2 S. Cotabato towns, village poll hotspots

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – Police and military presence will be intensified in two towns and a village in South Cotabato, which were considered “areas of concern” for the coming May polls.

Senior Superintendent Randolf Delfin, chief of the South Cotabato police office, said they are closely watching the political movements in the municipalities of Tampakan and T’boli, known as “gold-rich towns” in Central Mindanao region, due to possible violence that may erupt as the election period officially starts today.

Delfin said they would also monitor Barangay Ned in Lake Sebu town as one of their “areas of concern” this coming election.

He said a certain barangay is considered an election “hotspot” if it has a history of election violence or there are presence of rebels and other armed groups that may disturb the holding of election.

Barangay Ned is located near the territorial boundaries of the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao.

Delfin said they identified the localities of Tampakan, T’boli and Barangay Ned as “areas of concern” based on election-related violence that happened in these areas in the past.