Acting Provincial Comelec Supervisor lawyer Roberto Salazar said under area of concern or Category 1 is Don Salvador Benedicto; areas of immediate concern or Category 2 are Manapla, Silay City, Victorias City, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, Toboso, Kabankalan City and Hinoba-an; and areas of grave concern or Category 3 are Candoni, Moises Padilla and Escalante City.
Salazar said the lists are recommended by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and have been submitted to the Regional Joint Security Control Center chaired by the Comelec regional director.
He said areas under Category 1 are those having the presence of the New People’s Army (NPA) and with intense political rivalry. Those under Category 2 are areas having both the presence of NPA, intense political rivalry and the presence of some armed groups.
Those areas under Category 3 are having the combinations of all elements in the first two categories.
Salazar, however, clarified that that despite the presence of rebels, the AFP is confident that their strength is contained and that the military’s internal security operations are strengthened to help further contain the threat of the rebels.