Gingoog City declared area of immediate concern following Guingona ambush

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has placed Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental province on the list of areas of immediate concern following the ambush on Mayor Ruth de Lara Guingona, mother of Sen. TG Guingona, over the weekend. “Nilagay na namin [sa] area of immediate concern. [Yung] immediate concern is malaking bagay na 'yun. Second stage na 'yun,” said poll chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., referring to the four area classifications based on security situations. Guingona survived the ambush, which was perpetrated by the communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels, but her two bodyguards were killed. Brillantes said additional military troops will be deployed to Misamis Oriental following its inclusion on the areas of immediate concern list. “In fact may augmentation pa nga. Isang battalion, 500 sundalo. Pinag-usapan na namin,” he said. The Comelec had earlier identified 15 areas of concern it is monitoring along with the police and military. Prior to the start of the local campaign period, the Comelec decided not to use the term “hot spots” and instead adopted a four-level classification of localities: area of concern, area of immediate concern, area of grave concern, and area under Comelec-control. Under Comelec Resolution 9583, the poll body can take direct control and supervision of any political division, subdivision, unit or area affected by "serious armed threats." Meanwhile, Brillantes said in addition to the elevation of Gingoog City to area of immediate concern classification, President Benigno Aquino III has asked the military and police to dismantle NPA “checkpoints.” “Pinabubuwag na 'ata ni presidente lahat. So military ops na 'yan, executive na 'yan,” he said, adding that the only reason the Comelec is involved in the the issue is because Mrs. Guingona is a city mayor. “Nakialam lang kami ng konti dahil mayor ang involved. In the first place hindi naman dapat nagtatayo ng checkpoint ang NPA. Maski naman hindi panahon ng elections hindi dapat nagche-check point ang NPA,” he said. — Patricia Denise Chiu/KBK, GMA News