The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has released its list of areas of concern—locations being closely monitored due to potential disturbances related to the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
According to COMELEC Chairman Atty. George Garcia, a total of 403 areas have been included in the list due to the presence of political rivalries, threats from local groups such as private armed groups, and other factors that could disrupt the elections.
This includes 188 areas under the yellow category, 177 under the orange category, and 38 areas classified under the highest threat level, or the red category.
Moreover, most of the areas classified under the red category are cities and municipalities located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
However, the commission, along with the security sector, clarified that the classifications may still change as the campaign period approaches.
The political areas of concern were identified during the launch of the National Election Monitoring Center at Camp Crame, attended by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr.
