The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday announced the initial list of areas of concern for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections. 

The poll body has identified a total of 403 cities and municipalities nationwide, mostly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which were categorized in colors yellow, orange, and red. 

Of the 403, 188 areas are under the yellow category which means there’s an occurrence of suspected election-related incidents during the conduct past two elections and an existence of intense partisan political rivalry with no participation of local terror groups.

A total of 177 areas were categorized under the orange level, indicating serious armed threats from communist terrorist groups and other rebel factions.

Additionally, 38 areas fall under the red category, which includes one or more factors from the yellow and orange classifications. Areas under Comelec control will be subject to the commission’s direct supervision over officials and employees, as well as full authority over law enforcement agencies.

Comelec also identified 1,239 areas under the green category for having no security concerns.

Most areas under yellow are located in BARMM at 49; followed by Northern Mindanao, 22; Ilocos, 19; Zamboanga Peninsula, 18; Central Luzon and Eastern Visayas, 13; Caraga, 11; CAR, 10; Cagayan Valley, 9; Calabarzon, Western Visayas and Central Visayas, 7 each; Soccsksargen, 2; and one in Mimaropa. 

Under the orange category, 48 areas are in the Bicol; 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; Northern Mindanao, eight; Zamboanga Peninsula, three; one each in Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

BARMM has the highest number with 32 areas under the red category, two each in Cagayan Valley Bicol; and one each in Western Visayas and Esteasn Visayas.

However, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia stressed that this initial list could still change once the official campaign period starts on 12 January.

“Siyempre, simula pa lang ito. Maari pang magbago ang listahan na ito habang papalapit tauo sa halalan (Of course, we are just starting. This list may change as the election approaches),” Garcia told reporters in a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Thursday. 

Garcia explained those areas under the red category are “likely to end up” under Comelec's control. 

“Sana huwag niyo isipin na malagay ang inyong lugar sa under Comelec control sapagkat hindi niyo gugustuhin yun [dahil] It will make the lives of our people there in the area at least a little difficult at ayaw natin ng ganun (I hope the politicians, whether incumbent or otherwise, including the candidates, would do something to avoid this because it will make the lives our people in the area a little difficult, and we don't like that),” he said. 

While green means there is no threat of any election-related violence, Garcia said the Comelec and the security sector will still be on guard “since there are some cases that those under green suddenly become red as the election day nears.”

The list was approved by the Comelec en banc following the recommendation from the poll body’s committee on the gun ban and security concerns, in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The Comelec Resolution 11067 grants the poll body “direct the augmentation of AFP and PNP personnel as the need arises, and reshuffle the police force” in red areas.

The category red classification may warrant the motu proprio declaration of Comelec control. 

Super election

Garcia called the upcoming 2025 midterm polls “super elections” where collaborative efforts between Comelec, law enforcement, military, and government agencies are being exhausted.  

Citing Resolution No. 10999, Garcia said the Comelec en banc set the election period from 12 January to 11 June 2025, wherein a gun ban will be imposed nationwide except for security forces and other individuals declared as exempted, among them prosecutors and judges. 

The 90-day campaign period for senators and party-list representatives will start from 11 February until 10 May. Local candidates will be allowed to campaign from 28 March to 10 May.

In the same press conference, AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military was designated to assist the Comelec ensure safe and peaceful communities prior to the elections by addressing concerns posed by private armed groups, peace spoilers, and the communist rebels. 

During the election period, Brawner said the AFP is tasked to deploy soldiers and military assets as well as support in polls through the joint security control centers formed nationwide.  

“We will assist the Comelec in ensuring the safe transport of election materials and protection of election personnel. We will be doing this in conjunction, of course, with our partner, the Philippine National Police, under the supervision of Comelec,” Brawner said. 

He then urged the public to exercise the right to suffrage “by voting the right people for the right positions.”

Brawner lamented that calls for a military junta or coup d'état will never be a solution to the problems of a democratic country.

“Let’s use our voices and our only one vote to correct what we want to correct in the government, in our society. Let us use our right to suffrage in the proper way,” he said. 

PNP Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil said the police organization has already prepared for the successful elections and hopes it will be safer and more peaceful than the previous ones. 

Marbil also noted the PNP has intensified its cybersecurity efforts and continued running after private armed groups with loose firearms for safer and peaceful elections. 

The Comelec, in close coordination with the PNP and the AFP, activated the National Election Monitoring Action Center (NEMAC) at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, which will keep track of the security situation on the grounds during midterm elections. 

NEMAC is expected to provide real-time monitoring of election-related incidents in various polling centers nationwide.