THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental is still waiting for a new resolution on identifying possible hotspot areas in the province.
Lawyer Robert Salazar, acting provincial election provincial supervisor, said he cannot yet reveal the possible areas of concern or election hotspots until the commission’s head office in Manila could come up with a new resolution on the matter.
Salazar said that those areas earlier identified by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as possible “hotspots” could have been based on a resolution in 2019.
The areas earlier being considered as “hotspots” were Moises Padilla town that was put under Comelec control because of intense political rivalry and election-related violence, and Escalante City where election-related incidents and presence of armed groups were noted.
For now, Salazar said he cannot yet name possible areas having similar situations to be considered as “hotspots” for the coming May 9 elections.
A joint security council meeting will be conducted in February, which will be attended by Salazar along with the personnel from the PNP and the Philippine Army.
Earlier, 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte said they are hoping that no more areas will be added to the list of “hotspots” as the election nears.