A total of 7,915 barangay (villages) nationwide have been declared “election hotspots” ahead of the May 14 village and youth council elections, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has the most villages labeled election hotspots, with 1,415. A total of 419 villages in ARMM were in the “Red” category, or villages with intense political rivalry, presence of private armed groups, activities of criminal gangs, proliferation of loose firearms, and activities of “threat groups.”The ARMM was followed by the Bicol Region with 1,304 villages, and Soccskargen with 629 villages. Metro Manila or the National Capital Region had the lowest number of election hotspots, at 26. Two elected government officials and four civilians were wounded while three elected government officials were unharmed.

Source: Manila Times May 10, 2018 16:17 UTC