300 Caraga barangays eyed as poll watchlist areas

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — At least 300 barangays in Caraga are being considered as election watchlist areas in the May polls, the regional office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

Most of the barangays are in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur, Francisco Pobe, Comelec-Caraga director, said.

“Skirmishes between government forces and communist insurgents have occurred in these... areas, but our forces are trying to neutralize them before election day,” Pobe said.

He said the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) is validating the list of affected barangays.

Pobe said the police and military also continue to monitor areas prone to violence, including those where there is a reported presence of private armed groups.

Security forces are set to submit their report at the RJSCC meeting in this city next week.

Caraga is composed of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands.

There are 1,131 barangays in the region.