By Alejandro Saludo/ PNA
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Police authorities in Region 12 or Soccsksargen have not declared any hotspots or areas of concern in connection with the May 13 midterm elections.
Police Supt. Aldrin Gonzales, public information officer of the Police Regional Office-12, said Wednesday the security situation in the region remains stable and they have not recorded any election-related violence.
Gonzales said all police units in the region’s four provinces and five cities are currently on full alert based on their security plan for the elections.
He said police units have adopted enhanced security and intelligence measures for the run-up, during, and after the elections.
“This to ensure the safe, smooth and orderly conduct of the campaigning, the election proper and other related activities,” he said.
As to potential election hotspots, he said they have identified several areas that could be declared but their assessment and monitoring are still ongoing.
He said potential election hotspots include Cotabato City, parts of Sarangani Province and other areas that have history of election-related violence, intense political rivalry, as well as the presence of armed groups.
Gonzales said they are regularly coordinating the results of the assessment with the Commission on Elections and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The Philippine National Police has classified election hotspots based on the severity of the security situation, namely areas of concern, areas of immediate concern, and areas of grave concern.
In Soccsksargen, it identified four areas of concern, 20 areas of immediate concern, and four areas of grave concern.
