In a command briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, officials of the Comelec, the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police also placed 537 other towns and cities with histories of poll-related violence, local insurgency problems and intensive political rivalries under their watch list.
Meanwhile, Director Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., chief of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force, said his group has erred in reporting that at least 500 private armed groups exist in the country.
"Our figure was wrong, and the PNP-AFP figure of 91 is correct," Ebdane told reporters.
Listed as "areas of immediate concern" were the following: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Paoay, San Nicolas and Vintar, Ilocos Norte; Mallig, Isabela; Angat, Bulacan; Bansud and San Teodoro, Mindoro Oriental; Bacon, Sorsogon; Legazpi City, Albay; Lope de Vega and Catarman, Northern Samar; Tarragona, Davao Oriental; Arakan, North Cotabato; Butuan City, Agusan del Norte; Lingig, Surigao del Sur; Kabuntalan, Sultan Kudarat, Buluan and Maganoy, Maguindanao; and Lagayan, Abra.
PNP chief Deputy Director General Leandro Mendoza said during the command briefing that 703 people have been arrested nationwide for violation of the election gun ban.