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BACOLOD CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental will reevaluate the security situation in the province, provincial election supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said on Monday.
Ananoria said that the Comelec national office released last week the list of local government units (LGUs) that are tagged as areas of concern and two municipalities are classified as yellow category (areas with a history of election-related incidents) and three are classified as orange category (areas with serious armed threats) in Negros Occidental.
"Perhaps they have their own qualifications or different reports that they received. We will conduct a reassessment of the report," Ananoria said.
As of Monday morning, Ananoria said he has not yet received a copy of the Comelec report that placed the towns of Calatrava, Cauayan and Sipalay City under orange category and the towns of Isabela and San Enrique under yellow category.
He said that the Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center (RJSCC) will meet in two weeks to reassess the security situation in Negros Island Region (NIR).
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As of now, Ananoria said he will not make any comment regarding the statement from the Comelec national office.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, meanwhile, told The Manila Times over the weekend that among the LGUs in the Comelec watch list in Negros Occidental, "only Calatrava may be a concern not because of political rivalry but because of the presence of rebel remnants."
"Isabela and San Enrique is considered to be a close battle, but this two LGUs have managed to have a peaceful elections in the past," the governor said.
In the case of Sipalay City, Lacson said the elections are "as peaceful as it can be."
The governor, meanwhile, reminded the candidates to "enjoy the campaign and keep your promises."
Comelec regional director for NIR Lionel Marco Castillano said the RJSCC will also make its recommendations to the poll body's head office based on its assessment.
"The classification serves as a guide for election security plans," Ca
stillano said.
The Comelec also said that 27 LGUs in Negros Occidental are under the green category or no threat of any election-related violence.
The Comelec en banc, meanwhile, has set the election period from Jan. 12 to June 11, 2025. During this period, a gun ban will be imposed nationwide.
The 90-day campaign period for senators and party-list representatives will start from Feb. 11 until May 10. Local candidates will be allowed to campaign from March 28 to May 10.
Election day is May 12, 2025.
