CEBU CITY – Forty-one areas in Central Visayas have been placed under the orange and yellow categories in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 30.

Those placed under the orange category were considered areas of immediate concern while those in the yellow category were labeled areas of concern, said Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) led by Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin.

ABERIN (PRO-7 FB)

Pelare said that of these, 35 were placed under the orange category due to the presence of the New People’s Army. These places are in Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Cebu.

The five places under the yellow category are from Cebu.

Pelare said placing areas under certain categories will guide the PRO-7 in the deployment of security personnel.

“The deployment will depend on the peculiarity of the place. Our provincial directors and city directors, they have appropriate security in accord with the threat assessment that they made,” said Pelare.

As a proactive measure, Pelare said the PRO-7 will hold a dialogue with candidates and will also increase police visibility in areas placed under these two categories.

Pelare said that at least 12,000 security personnel will be deployed in various areas for the BSKE.

He said 9,200 security personnel will come from the PRO-7 while the rest will come from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine Coast Guard. 

A ceremonial send-off for the security forces will be held on October 25, Pelare said.