COMELEC names 403 ‘areas of concern’ for midterm elections

The Commission on Election (Comelec) named 403 areas of concern for the upcoming midterm election on May 12, 2025.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said that 38 areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cagayan Valley, and the Bicol Region have been placed under the red category, indicating serious armed threats and a history of election-related incidents.

In addition, 48 areas are in the Bicol Region, 22 in BARMM, 17 in Caraga, 16 in Central Visayas, 15 in Cagayan Valley, 13 in Eastern Visayas, 12 in Mimaropa, 11 in Soccsksargen, nine in Western Visayas, eight in Northern Mindanao, three in Zamboanga Peninsula, and one each in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). These are areas with serious armed threats.

One hundred eighty-eight areas from BARMM, Northern Mindanao, Ilocos, Zamboanga Peninsula, Central Luzon, Eastern Visayas, CARAGA, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, Western and Central Visayas, Soccsksargen, and MIMAROPA are placed under the yellow category, indicating a history of election-related incidents.

The Comelec urged local bets to comply with security measures to ensure a peaceful and orderly midterm poll.

Garcia noted that although the remaining areas in the country are placed under the green category, indicating no election-related security concerns, authorities are still monitoring these areas, as there is no 100-percent assurance that the elections will be peaceful there.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police will respectively reinforce their cybersecurity efforts and intelligence operations.

Under Resolution No. 10999, the Comelec en banc set the election period from January 12 to June 11, 2025.