City of San Fernando, Pampanga — Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) Director Brigadier General Redrico Maranan said that there are 12 areas in Central Luzon that have been declared as “areas of concern” this coming May elections.

During a press conference in Camp Crame, Maranan cited that these 12 areas of concern was declared by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that are within the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Bulacan and Pampanga.

Despite not specifying the areas, Maranan assured that the political situation in these areas remain “manageable” for the police.

The police official cited that the authorities are intensifying their campaign against private armed groups (PAGs) and loose firearms as part of their preparation for the upcoming elections. He added that there is still one more PAG in Nueva Ecija, prompting him to deploy 200 personnel to ensure the safety of the province.