30 identified as ‘areas of concern’ in S. Mindanao

DAVAO CITY — Police and military authorities have identified at least 30 barangays in Southern Mindanao as "areas of concern" in the coming elections.

"We have continuously been monitoring these barangays and updating their status as developments occur. The number can go up or down depending on our continuous assessment," Southern Mindanao regional police commander Chief Superintendent Isidro Lapeña told The STAR.

Lapeña said that in declaring a place as an ‘area of concern,’ formerly called ‘election hotspots,’ they look for three things — a history of political conflict, an existing fierce rivalry between political groups and the presence of armed men, including the New People’s Army (NPA), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other rebel groups.

Lapeña explained that in Southern Mindanao, a place is usually labeled as an ‘area of concern’ due to the presence of communist rebels, particularly in Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental.

The presence of NPA rebels was also noted in the hinterland barangays of Paquibato, Malabog and Marilog in Davao City. The communist insurgents were also reportedly traversing the boundaries of Davao del Sur and Cotabato.

Lapeña stressed that based on the political history of the region, there have been no known cases of intense conflict between political groups and clans. "We do not have any political candidates who are engaged in bitter rivalry so that they end up killing each other," he added.