GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Police units in Region 12 have stepped up security measures in connection with Friday’s start of campaign period for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Supt. Aldrin Gonzales, public information officer of the Police Regional Office-12 (PRO-12), said Thursday all their units are on high alert for possible disruptions related to the nine-day political campaigning.
Gonzales said they are closely watching areas in the region that are considered potential hotspots in the run-up and during the elections.
The Commission on Elections declared on Wednesday a total of 209 barangays in the entire region as election hotspots.
Some 201 barangays were placed under the orange category, seven under yellow and one under red.
Areas under the red category are considered in critical situation while those under orange have confirmed “presence of armed groups and organized movements outside the law.”
Villages under the yellow category were identified based on their “history of political unrest.”
Gonzales said they have laid down the necessary preparations to ensure that the coming polls in the area would be secure, peaceful and orderly. (PNA)
