Bacolod City – The Philippine National Police has declared that highly-urbanized Bacolod City is not listed as among possible “areas of concern” during the May 9 elections.
Based on assessment of the Joint City Peace and Security Coordinating Center, police spokesperson Lt. Col. Sherlock Gabana said that Bacolod City has not recorded any election-related violence and intense political rivalries among candidates, even in the past elections.
While elections in Bacolod City have been peaceful, Gabana, however called on candidates to be role models for a peaceful election.
Moises Padilla and Escalante City were both tagged as election areas of concerns due to election-related violence, intense political rivalries and the presence of New People’s Army rebels.
Another local government unit in southern Negros which was not identified by the policewas also categorized as a possible “area of concern” during the May 9 elections.
Meanwhile, incumbent Mayor Irene Montilla and her challenger for the Isabela mayoralty post, Vice Mayor Renato Malabor Jr., led their respective political groups in signing a peace covenant on January 30, held at the St. Nicholas Tolentino Parish Church in the town, witnessed by representatives of the Comelec, PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other government agencies. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)
