29 ‘hot spots’

A total of 29 barangays have been identified as "areas of concern" or "hot spots" in Metro Manila in the May elections.

This was revealed yesterday by the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after receiving reports submitted by the five police districts in Metro Manila on possible places of concern in their areas of responsibility.

Metro police chief Director Ricardo de Leon said the barangays were declared as areas of concern because of incidents in past elections, including vote-buying, intervention, shooting incidents and presence of armed men.

De Leon identified the areas as Barangays 68, 118, 121 and 123 in Don Bosco and Barangays 649 and 275 in Baseco, Del Pan and Farola, all in Tondo, Manila; Barangays San Martin de Porres, Tambo and Baclaran in Parañaque; Barangays Maharlika, Signal Village, Lower Bicutan, Upper Bicutan and Western Bicutan in Taguig, Barangay Sta. Ana in Pateros; Barangays Payatas, Damayang Lagi, Tandang Sora, Batasan Hills, Tatalon, Balara, and UP Campus in Quezon City and Barangays Arkong Bato, Malinta, Camunay, Karuhatan, Marulas, Ugong and T. de Leon in Valenzuela City.

Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD), reported that there were no hot spots in San Juan town and the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong and Marikina.

Earlier, De Leon said an area can be considered as a hot spot based on previous elections incidents, the presence of goons or private armies and intense rivalry among rival candidates. – Non Alquitran