Declaring election hotspots up to other agencies too, Comelec says

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) admitted on Monday that the New People's Army (NPA) — the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) armed wing — might be implementing a campaign tax in some provinces. But at the same time, it is not solely up to the agency to decide which areas should be declared as election hotspots. The poll body can only place areas under their control upon the recommendation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commission on Elections chairman Jose Melo said in a chance interview with reporters. “We cannot on our own just declare Comelec control or hotspot there should be coordination with the PNP and AFP," he said. However, Melo clarified that these incidents were not new and should not alarm the public. “Matagal na nangyayari yan e. Hindi lang masyadong open and open pero matagal na yan (This has been happening for a long time now. It's just not being done openly, but it has happening for a long time)," he said. Melo said that the Comelec will discuss this issue on the next command conference with the AFP and PNP, which has yet to be scheduled. "There are areas na dapat bantayan (which really should be guarded)," he added. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV