Region 7, comprising the Central Visayas provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, has 81 election watch list areas that will be closely monitored in the May 13 polls, Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr., regional director of the Philippine National Police, said yesterday.

Garbo, who was in Negros Oriental, said the province of Bohol tops the EWAS list with 48, followed by Cebu with 14, Negros Oriental with 13 and Siquijor with six areas.

The election watch list areas were determined due to historical data that show previous intense political rivalry and/or the presence of threat groups such as the New People's Army, he added.

Areas in Negros Oriental with “critical” barangays included in the list are Canlaon City, Bayawan City, Tanjay City, Jimalalud, Basay, Tayasan, Siaton, Zamboanguita, Guihulngan, La Libertad, Bacong, Valencia and Sta. Catalina, PNP records show.

Garbo said the regional joint peace and security coordinating center will meet next week in Cebu to re-assess the security plans submitted by the PNP and other law enforcement agencies.

The identification of the election watch list areas in the region is based on the validation of the regional intelligence community, Garbo said.

Meanwhile, Garbo also said he believes the PNP in Region 7 is prepared for the May 13 elections and that all units under his command had submitted their individual security plans.*JFP

back to top