Election, police and military officials have identified election hotspots in the provinces in connection with the October 29 synchronized barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan elections.

In Zamboanga, the Commission on Elections, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines had their final briefing which identified provinces under Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) that will be the focus of attention during the polls.

Based on the May 2007 elections, Region 9 -- composed of the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay -- had the most number of election-related violence.

Zamboanga del Norte’s 88 villages were declared "areas of concern" after six incidents of election-related violence were reported in May.

"If we base this sa historical date tensiyonado talaga ang eleksyon sa probinsiya (provincial elections are really full of tension). Eighty-eight barangays have been considered areas of concern dahil dito," said Senior Superintendent Mario Yanga, provincial police chief of Zamboanga del Norte.

The PNP said police trainees and members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit will augment forces to secure the election after receiving reports that the New People’s Army (NPA) in Zamboanga del Norte were extorting money from candidates.

Sulu peaceful
The AFP's Joint Task Force Comet, meanwhile, reported that Sulu is still peaceful despite the ambush of Abdurahman Jamasali, the spokesman of the Moro National Liberation Front.

"OK naman kami sa Jolo, Sulu. We have been implementing the gun ban at marami-rami na rin ang nahuli. Hindi rin makakaapekto ang pagbuwag ng CVO (civilian volunteer organization) dahil what we know is ang trabaho nila nag-e-escort lang sa mga candidates (We've been implementing the gun ban and we've arrested many. The break-up of the CVO has also not affected us because their work is purely to escort candidates)," said Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael, task force chief.

Meanwhile, COMELEC regional director Helen Aguila said that her office is "90-percent ready" for the elections and will recommend to authorities to secure the safety of personnel who will be rendering their services in the poll.

"What I usually recommend is for the PNP and AFP to secure BETs [Board of Election Tellers]. We are on a 90 percent level of preparedness na. At the moment, we have been receiving election paraphernalia as early as now," Aguila said.

Cebu villages tagged areas of concern
In a related development, 46 villages in Cebu province were declared as election areas of immediate concern.

The 46 villages were identified during a joint command conference Wednesday and are located in the cities of Bogo and Danao and in the municipalities of Asturias, Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Pinamungahan, San Remigio, Sogod, Tabuelan and Tuburan.

Senior Superintendent Mariano Natuel, head of Police Regional Operations and Plan Division 7, said 62 other barangays, including three in Cebu City, were tagged as election areas of concern.

Natuel added that 25 barangays in Bohol were also reported election areas of immediate concern while another 18 barangays in the province were tagged as election areas of concern.

NPA extortion in Iloilo
In Iloilo province, some 32 candidates for the post of barangay chairman are suspected to be supported by communist rebels.

Capt. Lowen Gil Marquez of the AFP’s Civil Relations Service Unit said the military has strong evidence to bolster allegations that the NPA are supporting the candidates.

Marquez said the AFP received information that the rebels are threatening the rivals of their supported candidates in the province.

The official warned that should these candidates win in the polls, the NPA could use them for their own interests.

In Cavite province, operatives of the police Regional Special Operations Group arrested Bienvenido Cortez of Barangay San Francisco in General Trias.

Two firearms were seized from Cortez who is reportedly a political leader of Walter Martinez, a candidate for barangay chairman in General Trias town.