The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has pinpointed 403 areas across the Philippines as potential trouble spots for the upcoming May 2025 midterm elections. This announcement was made during a press conference at Camp Crame, where Comelec officials, alongside the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), activated the National Election Monitoring Action Center.
The identified areas are categorized into different levels of concern: 38 areas fall under the red category, indicating serious armed threats and a history of election-related incidents; 177 areas are under the orange category, also marked by serious armed threats; and 188 areas are in the yellow category, which signifies a history of election-related incidents. Conversely, 1,239 areas are classified under the green category, indicating no election-related security concerns.
A significant number of the red category areas are located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with 32 areas, while Cagayan Valley and the Bicol Region each have two. The orange category sees a high concentration in the Bicol Region with 48 areas, followed by BARMM with 22. The yellow category is predominantly represented by BARMM with 49 areas.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia expressed hope that the security situation in the red category areas would improve, thereby avoiding the need for Comelec intervention. He called on local politicians and candidates to cooperate with security measures to ensure peaceful elections. Garcia highlighted that areas under red category are at risk of being placed under Comelec control, which could complicate life for residents.
The declaration of these areas of concern is intended to guide the Comelec and security forces in their preparations and deployment strategies. Garcia also noted that even green category areas are under scrutiny, as there is no guarantee of peacefulness as election day approaches.
The PNP reported 120 potential election-related incidents in 2024, with only 12 confirmed to be linked to the upcoming elections. PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil emphasized intensified operations against private armed groups and loose firearms, alongside plans to enhance cybersecurity efforts.
The AFP, led by Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., is considering intelligence operations to assess the backgrounds of midterm election candidates. The election period, set from January 12 to June 11, 2025, will include a nationwide gun ban, with exceptions for security forces and certain officials. The campaign period for senators and party-list representatives will run from February 11 to May 10, while local candidates can campaign from March 28 to May 10.