Manila, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Caloocan, Malabon tagged 'areas of concern' for #Eleksyon2019 —NCRPO

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday said Manila, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Caloocan, and Malabon are all considered "areas of concern" due to suspected election-related incidents during previous polls.

NCRPO chief Director Guillermo Eleazar said these areas now fall under the "yellow" level, which is considered the lowest category of hotspots.

Eleazar clarified that election hotspots are classified into four categories: "green" for election areas of no security concern; "yellow" for election areas of concern; "orange" for election areas of immediate concern; and "red" for election areas of grave concern.

All areas except those under the "green"  level are considered hotspots.

Apart from operations focused on the May elections, the NCRPO has also tightened security measures on the heels of the twin explosions in a cathedral in Jolo, Sulu that killed at least 20 people on January 27.

The police also earlier disclosed that the management of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) had received a bomb threat prior to the deadly explosions in Jolo.

The alleged threat was cited as the reason for the heightened security checks at train stations in Metro Manila where all kinds of liquids are now banned.

Loose firearms

A total of 205 loose firearms have been recovered so far by Metro Manila police as part of its anti-gun campaign in preparation for the upcoming elections.

According to a report from Balitanghali, the Southern Police District (SPD) alone has recovered 90 different kinds of firearms, including a revolver, shotgun, .45 pistol, and 9mm handgun.

Among these, 12 were found with a search warrant, three were confiscated at checkpoints, and the others were recovered in operations conducted by the police.

Eight grenades were also recovered by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Police are also monitoring private armed  groups which could potentially be used as hired killers.

The SPD has arrested 86 suspects in their operations, including a security guard who was also caught in possession of three sachets of shabu.

Areas of concern

In his statement, Eleazar said the five cities were placed under the yellow category "because of suspected election related incidents in past elections."

The NCRPO chief cited guidelines issued to the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) which state that an area shall be placed under  category "yellow" upon the existence of any of the following factors:

• occurrence of suspected election-related incident (ERI) in the last two elections provided there was no participation of domestic terror groups;
• existence of intense partisan political rivalry with no participation of domestic terror groups;
• possible employment of partisan armed groups by candidates in the area;
• occurence of politically motivated ERI in the current election period provided there is no participation period provided there is no participation of domestic terror groups; or
• the area has been previously declared under Comelec (Commission on Election) Comelec control.

The document also said "the Comelec En Banc, among others, may direct the augmentation of the PNP and AFP personnel, as the need arises in areas under category yellow." — Marisse Panaligan/NB/MDM, GMA News