MARAWI CITY, Philippines — The Philippine National Police provincial office in Lanao del Sur has identified 38 election hot spots in the province and requested for augmentation troops for the coming national elections in May 2010.
Police Senior Superintendent Esmael Pua Ali, PNP provincial director said only two towns in the province’s 39 towns are not considered as election hot spots namely the municipalities of Wao and Bumbaran, while 37 are hot spots based on previous occurences of election-related violence. Also considered as election hot spot is the city of Marawi. The intense political rivalries, the presence of partisan armed groups and other threat groups are also factors why the said towns and this city are considered hot spots, according to Ali. – Lino dela Cruz