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BACOLOD CITY — The recent clashes between the New People's Army (NPA) and government troops in Toboso and Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, will not affect the holding of May 12 elections in those areas, Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for Negros Island Region, said on Thursday.
Castillano said the armed clashes with rebel remnants were government initiated and part of its intensified and focused military operations against the NPA.
He said that not a single candidate, or voters, have been affected by the two encounters.
The separate encounters in Barangay General Luna in Toboso and Barangay Caduhaan in Cadiz City led to the injuries of three army soldiers and the death of two top leaders of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor.
The 112 families who fled their homes during the fire fight in Barangay General Luna have returned home after the military cleared the area, Councilor Richard Jaojoco said Thursday.
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The residents were forced to seek temporary shelter after the encounter between the rebels and military troopers on Tuesday. The evacuees were temporarily sheltered at the Amparado Elementary School and the Gen. Luna Covered Court.
The poll body, meanwhile, listed Guihulngan City and La Libertad in Negros Oriental under the "red category" or areas with serious threat of election related violence for the May 12, 2025 polls.
This was announced during the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) meeting on Wednesday in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.
Castillano, however, said there is no recommendation from the Philippine Army or Philippine National Police to place Guihulngan City under Comelec control.
Basay City in Negros Oriental was also placed under orange category, while the remaining local government units are in yellow category, he added.
Orange areas have the combination of election related incidents in the two previous elections, and threats from the NPA, while yellow category have history of election related violence.
Except for Candoni, which falls under the orange category, the remaining 31 local government units in the region are under green category, or areas with no security concerns.
The Comelec is also banking on the activation of Negros Island Region (NIR) Police Office to get more manpower to secure the May 12 elections.
Castillano said the Comelec needs additional augmentation forces in Negros Oriental.
Earlier, Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod City Police Office chief, said that he will deploy about 800 police personnel to secure the election in Bacolod City, with five police officers to be assigned in each of the 48 police precincts.
