With the entire Mindanao region already declared by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a Red election area “of grave concern,” the number of areas placed under the highest category of poll hot spots has jumped from only 94 last month nationwide to 570. “It’s not necessarily that the Red areas of grave concern are unruly. We just want to ensure peaceful elections [there] because as we all know, there were also those who opposed the BOL,” Albayalde said. Areas placed under the Yellow category are those with a history of election-related violence in the last two elections and intense political rivalry. These areas had been previously placed under Comelec control.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 25, 2019 21:33 UTC