The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has classified 167 cities and municipalities as areas of concern ahead of the national and local elections, based on their peace and order situation.
Of these, 11 are under the red category (grave concern), 50 in orange (serious threats), 41 in yellow (history of election-related incidents), and 63 in green (no security concerns).
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region tops the red category list with eight areas, followed by Negros Oriental with two and Lanao del Norte with one.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said these classifications may still change as the elections approach, with authorities closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the Philippine National Police.
No area has been placed under Comelec’s control yet, but this may happen if political violence escalates.
Source: PhilNews24 | March 20, 2025
