Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced an initial list of 1,619 areas that have been classified as areas of concern for the upcoming May 12 midterm elections. This list is part of an effort to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections by identifying potential hotspots that could affect the electoral process.

According to Philippines News Agency, the areas have been categorized into four distinct groups: “red”, “orange”, “yellow”, and “green”. The “red” category, which signifies areas with serious armed threats and a history of election-related incidents, includes 36 locations. Among these, 30 are within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), specifically 20 towns in Lanao del Sur, nine in Maguindanao del Sur, and one in Basilan. Additional “red” areas include one in Isabela, one in Masbate, two in Negros Oriental, one in Samar, and one in Lanao del Norte.

In the “orange” category, which also indicates areas with significant armed threats, there are 156 locations identified. Notably, the number of “red” and “orange” areas has decreased compared to figures from January this year, which recorded 177 areas for each category.

The “yellow” category, which highlights areas with a history of election-related incidents, has seen a slight increase, with the number now at 194 areas, up from 188 in January. Conversely, the “green” category, representing regions considered relatively peaceful and orderly, has grown to include 1,256 areas, an increase from the 1,239 areas noted earlier this year.