19 election hot spots under close watch —PNP

The Philippine National Police is closely watching 19 cities and municipalities considered as election hot spots as part of its preparations for the upcoming      start of the election period on Sunday.

According to Oscar Oida's report on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho", election hot spots are areas known to have history of violence and that need to be monitored closely as the elections draw near

"Continuously we do validation, of course, habang palapit ang election period. We have joint operations with the Armed Forces of the Philippines," PNP deputy spokesperson Superintendent Kim Molitas said.

"So kung bumaba ang incidents at na assess na nabawasan ang pangyayaring ito, it's either we remove them or move them to another category," she added.

Most of the hotspots are said to be in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with like Basilan, Lanao de Sur and Maguindanao.

Daraga, Albay has already been recommended to be placed under Commission on Elections (Comelec) Control and is being investigated now.

Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo has been tagged as the mastermind in the assassination of rival mayoral candidate Ako Bikol Representative Rodel Batocabe.

Once a place goes under Comelec control, authority over the police and the military as regards the elections goes to the commission.

"Sila ang magmamanage ng security, deployment of troops and even kung kinakailangan reshuffle 'yung mga tao doon nirereshuffle nila," Comelec chairman Shariff Abas has said.

As the election day draws near, more areas can be added to the election hotspots list.

During the election in 2016, over 133 election-related incidents were reported by the PNP in connection to the 2016 national and local elections.

Forty-eight people died just within the election period in 2016, and more than 50 were wounded. 

Most of the victims were supporters of candidates and over 33 of them died. Gun shooting has been reported to be the cause of almost half of the election-related incidents.

The Autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao had the most number of incidents, followed by Region 3 and Region 10.

To address this, Comelec will be working hand in hand with PNP and AFP this coming election as stated by the memorandum order signed by President Duterte.

"The PNP will be available to us, both their personnel and their equipment and resources in case we should need it," Comelec director James Jimenez said. —Kaela Malig/NB, GMA News