By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
A total of 38 areas are considered hotspots and are currently being looked into by authorities ahead of the 2025 midterm elections, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday.
In a Palace press briefing, Remulla said 27 of the identified election hotspots are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
He said the police are also monitoring the situation in Albuera, Leyte.
“We will have a special meeting for that on Nov. 15 to discuss the contingencies on what must be done to ensure a safe and fair election for everyone there,” he added.
The first parliamentary election in the BARMM will be held simultaneously with the May 12, 2025 midterm elections.
Undas, holiday security preps
Security preparations for Undas 2024 and the holiday season are also discussed in a sectoral meeting presided over by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Malacañang, according to Remulla.
The DILG chief said he has instructed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to heighten the monitoring of public areas, particularly in malls and public transport such as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT).
“May special efforts kami (we have special efforts) to put marshals on the trains and to increase police visibility in all the public areas,” he said.
Abduction of American vlogger
Meanwhile, Remulla assured the public that authorities are working on the reported abduction of American vlogger Elliot Eastman, who was reportedly kidnapped in Zamboanga del Norte this week.
He said the police are in hot pursuit of the perpetrators.
“From the latest information, it doesn’t sound like a kidnapping yet, kasi wala pang ransom demand in actuality. Parang merong local na hidwaan doon sa community, parang hindi pagkakasundo,” Remulla said.
“Anyway, we’re still treating this as a kidnapping, and the police are in hot pursuit of the perpetrators,” he added.
