16 poll hot spots in Cagayan – PNP

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — Fifteen towns and a city in Cagayan are considered areas of concern in the May elections, according to the provincial police office.

Col. Renell Sabaldica, Cagayan police director, said Buguey, Baggao, Tuao, Amulung, Peñablanca, Enrile and Rizal are under red category or areas of grave concern.

Tuguegarao City, Gattaran, Gonzaga, Sto. Niño, Iguig, Solana, Alcala and Allacapan are under orange category or areas of immediate concern.

Sabaldica said these areas, which have a history of election-related violence in previous elections, threats and intimidations involving candidates as well as the presence of armed groups, are being monitored.

He said police and military personnel have been deployed in these areas.

“Almost all police stations in Cagayan are treated with highest priority for security deployment to ensure zero election-related incidents,” Sabaldica told The STAR.

Meanwhile, Capt. Isabelita Gano, Cagayan police information officer, said Appari is under yellow category while the remaining 13 towns are under green category.

The PNP has adopted a color-coding scheme to identify poll hot spots – green for peaceful, yellow for areas of concern, orange for areas of immediate concern and red for areas of grave concern.

Areas under red category have a history of violent incidents, intense political rivalry and armed threats posed by local terrorist groups.

Those in the yellow category have a history of election-related incidents in previous elections, intense political rivalry and being previously placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Areas under orange category have a combination of two or more factors under yellow category aside from serious armed threat posed by rebel groups.

The Comelec had earlier said it was validating around 300 poll hot spots across the country.