By Helen Castaño | 11:23 AM February 18, 2022
Seven municipalities in Bohol province face serious armed threat from lawless elements, according to the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO).
They are thus deemed as “areas of immediate concern” in the May 9, 2022 elections, said Police Colonel Osmundo Salibo, BPPO director.
The seven towns are Balilihan, Tubigon, Clarin, Inabanga, Batuan, Bilar and Sevilla.
They belong to the “orange category”
or areas of immediate concern. There is serious armed threat posed by the NPA, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Abu Sayyaf Group and other lawless elements in the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) classification of election hotspots.
Salibo said ther are 18 towns placed under category yellow o areas of concern where there is history of election-related incidents for the past two elections and there is intense political rivalry. These are the towns of Antequera, Baclayon, Calape,
Catigbian, Bien Unido, Buenavista, Danao,
Sagbayan, San Isidro, San Miguel, Talibon, Trinidad, Ubay, Carmen, Garcia Hernandez, Guindulman, Mabini and Pilar.
Meanwhile, there are 23 towns identified for category green or places where there are no security concerns and generally peaceful. These are Tagbilaran City, Alburquerque, Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Loon, Maribojoc, Panglao, Sikatuna, Dagohoy, Getafe, President Carlos P. Garcia, Alicia, Anda, Candijay, Dimiao, Duero, Jagna, Lila, Loon Loboc, Sierra Bullones and Valencia.
Salibo said there is no town placed in category red or a place which has grave concern.
However, according to Salibo, there will be changes as they are monitoring and validating reports.