Comelec 95% ready, tags 47 provinces, NCR 'areas of concern'

(Updated 6:01 p.m.) A day before the May 14 elections, Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos said Sunday that that the poll body is "95 percent" ready, with the "5 percent" accounting for security concerns in some areas it still needs to address. This came hours after Comelec commissioner Sarmiento said that the poll body expects 80 to 90 percent of 45 million registered voters to troop to polling precincts. Abalos said he has asked the poll body's regional directors to assess the situation in their respective areas so they can ask the military for additional units to provide security if required. The Comelec has deputized about 20,000 of the 120,000-strong military to help police provide security in the elections. Abalos had met with Armed Forces chief General Hermogenes Esperon and National Police Chief Director General Oscar Calderon Saturday night to look over the list of "volatile" areas. "We do not want to wait for eruption (of violence). As much as possible, we want to prevent it," he said. He said he had issued a memorandum ordering their regional directors to assess the situation in their respective areas so they can ask the military for additional units to provide security if required. Abalos said the Department of Budget and Management has released P105 million for the augmentation troops. He added some P60 million has been released earlier and the P45 million was released only recently. He said some P5 billion budget was allocated for Comelec for the conduct of the election. Of the amount, P2 billion is for the allowance of the teachers who will serve as board of election inspectors. He added he also ordered their election officers not to allow any change or transfer of voters as it was utilized by unscrupulous individuals during the 2004 elections to confuse the voters. "We will not allow juggling of list of voters otherwise our election officers will have to answer," he said. 49 provinces tagged hotspots In Resolution 7892 dated May 8, Comelec en banc called on the AFP to deploy troops and support PNP contingents in 49 provinces and 201 municipalities identified as areas of immediate concern. Included in the list are the municipalities of Penarrubia, Dolores, Danglas, Tayum, Tineg, Bangued, Langiden, Lacub, Bokod in Benguet; Lubuagan, Pasil, Pinukpuk, Tanudad, Tinglayan in Kalinga, Cordillera Autonomous Region. Municipalities of Badoc, Dingras, Laoag City in Ilocos Norte; Cabugao and Cervantes in Ilocos Sur; Agoo, Bauang, Aringas, Tubao, Naguilian and Bagulin in La Union; San Fabian, Binmaley, San Carlos City, San Manuel and the entire 3 rd district of Pangasinan, all in Region 1. Municipalities of San Pablo, Gamu, Echague, Ilagan, Ramon, Alicia, San Guillermo, Cordon, San Mariano, Delfin Albano, Benito Soliven, San Agustin and Jones in Isabela, Region 2. Municipalities of Calumpit, Meycauayan, San Miguel, Santa Maria, San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan; Casiguran, Dilasag, Dingalan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora and San Luis in Aurora; La Paz in Tarlac, all in Region 3. Municipalities of Lobo, Taysan, Tuy, Batangas City in Batangas; Cavinti, Luisiana, Majayjay in Laguna; Lucban, Mulanay, Polilio, Sampaloc, Tiaong, Buenavista, Burdeos, Guinayangan, Infanta, Pagbilao and San Andres in Quezon; Antipolo in Rizal; villages of Tugos, Duyay, Tambunan, Sabong, Tumagabok, Mahinhin, Puting Buhangin, Hinapulan, Canat, Boi and Bayuti in municipality of Boac in Marinduque in Region 4. Also included in the list of areas of immediate concern were Tamacan village in Amadeo; Lantic village in Carmona,; Molino 1-7 village, Aniban elementary school, PF Espiritu ES, San Nicolas ES in Bacoor; villages of Wawa, Tejero, Ligtong and Sapa in Rosario, all in Cavite; municipalities of Calintaan, Looc, Lubang, Magsaysay, Paluan, Sablayan and Sta. Cruz in Occidental Mindoro; Bansud, Mansalay, Bulalacao, Gloria in Oriental Mindoro. Municipalities of Jovellar, Libon, Pio Duran, Ligao City and Tiwi in Albay; Sta. Elena, Labo, San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, Jose Panganiban and Paracale in Camarines Norte; Balatan, Buhi, Caramoan, Lagonoy, Minalabac, Presentacion, Sangay, Sipocor, Tigaon, Tinambac in Camarines Sur; Bagamanoc, Caramoan, Gigmoto and San Andres in Catanduanes; and the entire province of Masbate and Sorsogon in Region 5. Municipalities of Sta Fe and Bantayan Island in Cebu, Region 7. Municipalities of Cabiran (Cabibihan village); Kawayan (Mapuyo and Tubig Ginoo villages), Naval (Capinahan village and Eden subvillage) in Biliran; Can-avid (Balagon, Boco, Pandol and Salvacion villages), Sulat (Aet, Mabini, and Kandalakit) in Eastern Samar; Allen, Bobon, Mondragon, Lope de Vega, Silvino Lovos, Catubig, Palapag, Gamay, Mapanas, Lapinig in Northern Samar, Region 8. Municipalities of Buug, Kabasalan, Tungawan, Alicia, Payao, Mabuhay, Talusan, Olutanga in Zamboanga Sibugay; Tampilisan Sibuco, La Libertad (Poblacion, New Carcar, Sta Cruz, New Bataan, La Victoria, New Argao, Mercedes, San Jose and Singaran villages) Leon Postigo, Gutalac, Kalawit, Siocon, Sirawai and Baliguian in Zamboanga del Norte; Labangan, Molave, Josefina, Bayog, Tigbao, Tambulig, Mahayag, Lakewood, San Miguel, Tabina, Tukuran, San Pablo, Kumalarang, Dinas, Dimataling, Limaong island, Sacol island, Manalipa island, Pangapuyan island, Tictabon island and Tumalipat in Zamboanga del Sur, Region 9. Municipalities of Lagonglong, Salay, Medina in Misamis Oriental; Kauswangan, Maigo, Matungao, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagaloan in Lanao del Norte; Baliangao, Clarin and Sapang Dalaga in Misamis Occidental; Baungon in Bukidnon; and Mambajao in Camiguin, Region 10. Also included in the list are Digos City, municipalities of Bansalan, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Kiblawan, Matanao and Sta. Cruz; entire province of Compostela Valley; Tagum City, Panabo City, municipalities of Asuncion, Carmen, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro, Sto Tomas, Talaingod in Davao del Norte; Mati, Lupon, Banaybanay, Gov. Generoso, San Isidro, Tarragona, Manay, Caraga, Baganga, Cateel and Boston in Davao Oriental, Region 11. Municipalities of Aleosan, Banisilan, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pigcawayan, Pikit, Antipas, Arakan, Magpet, Makilala, Matalam, Mlang, Pres. Roxas, Tulunan in North Cotabato; Columbio in Sultan Kudarat; Pula Bato, Danlag, Tablu and Albangan villages in Tampakan South Cotabato; Sapu Masla, Malapatan and Malabod, Malungon in Sarangani, Region 12. Municipalities of Trento in Agusan del Sur, Lingig in Surigao del Sur, CARAGA; entire province of Sulu and municipality of Sultan Kudarat in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; and cities of Pasay, Pasig, Caloocan, Taguig and Marikina in National Capital Region. Abalos expects to proclaim the winning senatorial candidates on May 26, 10 days after the Board of Canvassers convene at Philippine International Convention Center on may 16. "We hope to proclaim everybody by the end of the month," he said. - GMANews.TV-GMANews.TV