300 brgys seen as election watchlist areas in Caraga

BUTUAN CITY – Regional Director Francisco G. Pobe of the Commission on Election (Comelec) in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region on late Monday afternoon said at least 300 barangays (villages) are being considered to be included in Election Watchlist Areas (EWAs) in the coming May 2019 polls in Caraga region.

“However, this initial list of EWAs is now thoroughly validated by the Joint Security Control Center (JSCC),” said the region’s top Comelec official, in an exclusive interview with The Manila Bulletin on Monday.

He said barangays considered for inclusion in the EWA list mostly experienced Communist-insurgency problem.

The region’s top Comelec official specifically cited the far-flung areas in the provinces of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur.

“Skirmishes between government security forces and communist insurgents sometime happened in these considered EWAs, but our government forces are trying to neutralize these areas before the election day will take place,” Pobe pointed out.

The Comelec official also said there was no private armed group or private army moving in the region.

“But still, our government security forces, the military and police and other law enforcement agencies are still continously verifying and validating on the ground if there is any private Army or private armed group in Caraga region,” Pobe said.

He said field unit commanders of the military and police are again set to submit their report during the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) meeting here next week.

The Comelec, the RJSCC, along with the other law enforcement agencies and other concerned line agencies of the government, will also tackle in that meeting the “Operation Baklas”. The operation will take effect on Feb. 12, the start of the election campaign period, Director Pobe also said.

The Comelec official has directed all candidates to tear down their campaign materials posted outside designated common poster areas before the campaign period starts or face charges for violation of election laws.