BACOLOD – Because of intense political rivalry, Escalante City has been placed under category 1 of election areas of concern by the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

According to Sr. Supt. Celestino Guara Sr., placed under category 2 are the barangays and sitios in the cities of Cadiz, Victorias, Sipalay and Himamaylan and towns of Manapla, Moises Padilla, Binalbagan and Ilog.

Category 1 refers to towns or cities with intense political rivalry, and category 2 refers to towns and cities with the presence of New People’s Army (NPA) or presence of election-related incidents involving rebels.

However, the Army clarifies that out of 622 barangays in Negros Occidental, only 10 to 20 barangays are affected by the presence of the NPA.

In a meeting held Wednesday morning, members of the Army, PNP and Comelec identified the means to prevent election violence in these areas from happening again.