13 Iloilo towns ‘areas of immediate concern’

Posted to Panay News (Jan 20, 2022): 13 Iloilo towns ‘areas of immediate concern’ (By Ruby P. Silubrico)

Thirteen municipalities in this province face serious armed threat from the New People’s Army (NPA), according to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).

They are thus deemed as “areas of immediate concern” vis-à-vis the May 9, 2022 elections, said Police Colonel Adrian Acollador, IPPO director.

The 13 towns are Sara, Bingawan, Lambunao, Maasin, Janiuay, Alimodian, San Joaquin, Tubungan, Igbaras, Miag-ao, Leon, Lemery, and San Dionisio.

They belong to the “orange category” in the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) classification of election hotspots.

However, according to Acollador, “May mga changes pa ina. So far amo lang pa lang ini ang category.”

These are Comelec’s classification of election hotspots:

* green – areas that do not have security concerns and are generally peaceful and orderly

* yellow – areas of concern; these areas have histories of election-related incidents in the last two elections and intense political rivalry; these areas were previously placed under Comelec control

* orange – areas of immediate concern; there is serious armed threat posed by the NPA, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Abu Sayyaf Group and other lawless elements

* red – areas of grave concern; they exhibit combined factors under the yellow and orange categories that may warrant Comelec control motu proprio

Of the 13 towns under the “orange category” Miag-ao had the most recent violent incident – NPA rebels clashing with government troops on Dec. 1 in Barangay Alimodias. Sixteen rebels died.

After the Dec. 1 encounter, according to Miag-ao police chief, Police Captain Marvin Buenavista, the rebels became silent.

“So far wala kita ka-monitor sang ila movements. Pero indi lang kita mag-relax. Naka-ready kita permi and we are thankful sa aton counterpart nga Armed Forces of the Philippines kay ara sila gabulig sa aton,” Buenavista said.

So far, only the municipality of Calinog is deemed an “area of grave concern” in the province.

“Calinog is in the red category because of the presence of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels there and election-related incidents in the town years ago,” Acollador told Panay News.

Calinog police chief, Police Major Dadjie Delima confirmed the presence of NPA in his turf and election-related incidents in the past that the rebels were supposedly behind.

Just this Jan. 9, the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army had an encounter with some 15 rebels in Barangay Marandig, Calinog. There were no casualties.

https://www.panaynews.net/13-iloilo-towns-areas-of-immediate-concern/