The Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) identified seven towns in the province which may face possible armed threats coming from lawless elements.
As this developed, these areas are classified as “areas of immediate concern” especially in relation to the May 9, 2022 elections, according to BPPO chief Col. Osmundo Salibo.
Salibo made the revelation to the media in a meeting on Feb. 17, 2022 at Camp Francisco Dagohoy.
The seven towns identified as areas of immediate concern are Balilihan, Tubigon, Clarin, Inabanga, Batuan, Bilar and Sevilla.
Under the Commission on Elections (Comelec) color-coding scheme, the aforementioned towns are included in the orange category.
The Comelec, and adopted by the Philippine National Police (PNP), uses colors in identifying the election hotspots in the upcoming polls this May.
The orange category means the area has the potential of having violence coming from lawless elements, which include the members of the communist-terrorist group known as the New People’s Army (NPA).
Moreover, there are 18 towns in the province placed under the yellow category. The places under the yellow category are areas of concern, Salibo said.
The towns in Bohol under the yellow category are Antequera, Baclayon, Calape, Catigbian, Bien Unido, Buenavista, Danao, Sagbayan, San Isidro, San Miguel, Talibon, Trinidad, Ubay, Carmen, Garcia Hernandez, Guindulman, Mabini, and Pilar.
These areas are under the yellow category because of history of election-related incidents for the past 2 elections and intense political rivalry, the BPPO chief revealed.
All other areas in Bohol are under the green category where it means these places are peaceful, the BPPO’s Salibo said.
Fortunately, there is no area in Bohol placed under the red category. The red category means an area of grave concern.
However, Salibo said there could be changes in the classification as the police are still monitoring all areas in the province.
