The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas on Friday disclosed that at least 28 barangays in the region has been placed under tight monitoring ahead of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

PRO-7 spokesperson Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare said barangays identified as areas of concern have a history of intense political rivalry and election related incidents, adding that 22 barangays in Negros Oriental were identified as areas of immediate concern, meaning there is presence of communist terrorist groups.

However, he refused to divulge the barangays with still ongoing communist insurgency.

Cebu Provincial Police Office deputy provincial director Lt. Col. Randy Caballes, meantime, identified two barangays in Cebu — Linao in Talisay City and South Poblacion in San Fernando.

Election-related violence which occurred in Linao and South Poblacion happened before the midterm elections in 2019 and Pelare said that there are also four barangays in Bohol that are under areas of concern, but he refused to identify it.

COMELEC-7 regional director Atty. Marco Lionel Castillano told DAILY TRIBUNE that the final list of barangays under "tight watch" will be released anytime by the Central Office.