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181 RP towns consistent election hotspots


On April 1, Freddie Boy Quidato, mayoral candidate in Placer, Masbate, and two of his supporters were walking on Sitio Bugtong at Cauayan village when a group of some 20 armed men sprayed them with bullets. Quidato survived the attack unhurt. His supporters, Tod Nonoy Duan and Toto Juanico, were not as lucky.

A few days later, national police records show that Alfredo Yuson, a supporter of another Masbate mayoral bet, allegedly killed in an ambush two supporters of a rival candidate.

Violence is not new in the province of Masbate. Its political history has left a trail of blood in recent years: Three Espinosas, all elected public officials, have been killed in over a decade. The Espinosas have been rulers of Masbate for almost half a century.

Police statistics show that election-related incidents have claimed at least 25 lives in Masbate since the 2001 polls. A recent GMA News Research study finds that all but three towns and cities in Masbate have been consistent hotspots in the last three elections.

Masbate, however, is not an isolated case. GMA News Research finds 181 cities and towns in the country are consistent hotspots since 2001. (see complete table)

Hotspots are areas considered election areas of concern (EAC) and election areas of immediate concern (EIAC). The police define EAIC as cities or municipalities where election-related violence are highly expected to occur. EAC are towns where election-related violence are likely to occur or where election-related offenses were committed during the previous elections.

consistent election hotspots


Eighteen of these towns are in Masbate: Arroyo, Baleno, Balud, Batuan, Cataingan, Cawayan, City Of Masbate, Claveria, Dimasalang, Mobo, Monreal, Palanas, Pio V. Corpuz (Limbuhan), Placer, San Fernando, San Jacinto, San Pascual, and Uson.

Meanwhile, Abra, province of killed Rep. Luis Bersamin, is another regular hotspot. Ten of its 27 towns are consistent hotspots. It was declared under the control of the Commission on Elections this year. In the 2004 elections, four towns in this province were also declared under Comelec control: Bangued, Danglas, La Paz and Tineg.

In Nueva Ecija, 17 out of 32 towns are hotspots. Jaen town, where violence also erupted and claimed lives this year, is among the 17.

Half of the towns in Lanao del Sur are also consistent hotspots in the national elections from 2001 to 2007. This year, elections failed to push through in 17 towns due to threats of violence.

In Cagayan, 16 out of 29 towns in are consistent hotspots.

Table 1. Consistent election hotspots
Municipality Province Region

1

Bangued Abra CAR

2

Boliney Abra CAR

3

Danglas Abra CAR

4

Dolores Abra CAR

5

Lacub Abra CAR

6

Lagayan Abra CAR

7

Langiden Abra CAR

8

Malibcong Abra CAR

9

Tayum Abra CAR

10

Tubo Abra CAR

11

Trento Agusan Del Sur XIII

12

City Of Ligao Albay V

13

Jovellar Albay V

14

Libon Albay V

15

Pio Duran Albay V

16

Casiguran Aurora III

17

Dipaculao Aurora III

18

Sumisip Basilan ARMM

19

Batangas City Batangas IV-A

20

Tuy Batangas IV-A

21

Amulung Cagayan II

22

Buguey Cagayan II

23

Claveria Cagayan II

24

Enrile Cagayan II

25

Gattaran Cagayan II

26

Gonzaga Cagayan II

27

Iguig Cagayan II

28

Lal-Lo Cagayan II

29

Lasam Cagayan II

30

Peñablanca Cagayan II

31

Piat Cagayan II

32

Rizal Cagayan II

33

Santa Teresita Cagayan II

34

Santo Niño (Faire) Cagayan II

35

Tuao Cagayan II

36

Tuguegarao City Cagayan II

37

Jose Panganiban Camarines Norte V

38

Labo Camarines Norte V

39

San Lorenzo Ruiz (Imelda) Camarines Norte V

40

Santa Elena Camarines Norte V

41

Buhi Camarines Sur V

42

Sagnay Camarines Sur V

43

Mambajao Camiguin X

44

Bagamanoc Catanduanes V

45

Gigmoto Catanduanes V

46

Carmona Cavite IV-A

47

Maco Compostela Valley XI

48

Mawab Compostela Valley XI

49

New Corella Davao Del Norte XI

50

Talaingod Davao Del Norte XI

51

Don Marcelino Davao Del Sur XI

52

Baganga Davao Oriental XI

53

Caraga Davao Oriental XI

54

Governor Generoso Davao Oriental XI

55

Lupon Davao Oriental XI

56

Manay Davao Oriental XI

57

Mati Davao Oriental XI

58

San Isidro Davao Oriental XI

59

Tarragona Davao Oriental XI

60

Can-Avid Eastern Samar VIII

61

Dingras Ilocos Norte I

62

Laoag City Ilocos Norte I

63

Cabugao Ilocos Sur I

64

Alicia Isabela II

65

Angadanan Isabela II

66

Delfin Albano (Magsaysay) Isabela II

67

Ilagan Isabela II

68

Mallig Isabela II

69

San Pablo Isabela II

70

Lubuagan Kalinga CAR

71

Pasil Kalinga CAR

72

Pinukpuk Kalinga CAR

73

Tanudan Kalinga CAR

74

Tinglayan Kalinga CAR

75

Kauswagan Lanao Del Norte X

76

Munai Lanao Del Norte X

77

Bacolod-Kalawi (Bacolod Grande) Lanao Del Sur ARMM

78

Balabagan Lanao Del Sur ARMM

79

Bayang Lanao Del Sur ARMM

80

Binidayan Lanao Del Sur ARMM

81

Butig Lanao Del Sur ARMM

82

Calanogas Lanao Del Sur ARMM

83

Ganassi Lanao Del Sur ARMM

84

Kapai Lanao Del Sur ARMM

85

Lumba-Bayabao (Maguing) Lanao Del Sur ARMM

86

Madamba Lanao Del Sur ARMM

87

Malabang Lanao Del Sur ARMM

88

Masiu Lanao Del Sur ARMM

89

Mulondo Lanao Del Sur ARMM

90

Pagayawan Lanao Del Sur ARMM

91

Piagapo Lanao Del Sur ARMM

92

Poona Bayabao (Gata) Lanao Del Sur ARMM

93

Pualas Lanao Del Sur ARMM

94

Saguiaran Lanao Del Sur ARMM

95

Sultan Gumander Lanao Del Sur ARMM

96

Tugaya Lanao Del Sur ARMM

97

Sultan Kudarat (Nuling) Maguindanao ARMM

98

Aroroy Masbate V

99

Baleno Masbate V

100

Balud Masbate V

101

Batuan Masbate V

102

Cataingan Masbate V

103

Cawayan Masbate V

104

City Of Masbate Masbate V

105

Claveria Masbate V

106

Dimasalang Masbate V

107

Mobo Masbate V

108

Monreal Masbate V

109

Palanas Masbate V

110

Pio V. Corpuz (Limbuhan) Masbate V

111

Placer Masbate V

112

San Fernando Masbate V

113

San Jacinto Masbate V

114

San Pascual Masbate V

115

Uson Masbate V

116

Baliangao Misamis Occidental X

117

Clarin Misamis Occidental X

118

Sapang Dalaga Misamis Occidental X

119

Lagonglong Misamis Oriental X

120

Arakan North Cotabato XII

121

Banisilan North Cotabato XII

122

Carmen North Cotabato XII

123

Kabacan North Cotabato XII

124

Midsayap North Cotabato XII

125

M'lang North Cotabato XII

126

Pigkawayan North Cotabato XII

127

Pikit North Cotabato XII

128

Tulunan North Cotabato XII

129

Lope De Vega Northern Samar VIII

130

Silvino Lobos Northern Samar VIII

131

Cabanatuan City Nueva Ecija III

132

Carranglan Nueva Ecija III

133

Gabaldon (Bitulok & Sabani) Nueva Ecija III

134

Gapan Nueva Ecija III

135

General Mamerto Natividad Nueva Ecija III

136

Guimba Nueva Ecija III

137

Jaen Nueva Ecija III

138

Lupao Nueva Ecija III

139

Nampicuan Nueva Ecija III

140

Palayan City Nueva Ecija III

141

Pantabangan Nueva Ecija III

142

Quezon Nueva Ecija III

143

Rizal Nueva Ecija III

144

San Isidro Nueva Ecija III

145

San Jose City Nueva Ecija III

146

Santa Rosa Nueva Ecija III

147

Santo Domingo Nueva Ecija III

148

Calintaan Occidental Mindoro IV-B

149

Sablayan Occidental Mindoro IV-B

150

Sablayan Occidental Mindoro IV-B

151

Sablayan Occidental Mindoro IV-B

152

Santa Cruz Occidental Mindoro IV-B

153

Bansud Oriental Mindoro IV-B

154

Gloria Oriental Mindoro IV-B

155

San Carlos City Pangasinan I

156

Pagbilao Quezon IV-A

157

City Of Antipolo Rizal IV-A

158

Calbayog City Samar (Western Samar) VIII

159

Matuguinao Samar (Western Samar) VIII

160

San Jorge Samar (Western Samar) VIII

161

San Jose De Buan Samar (Western Samar) VIII

162

Santa Margarita Samar (Western Samar) VIII

163

Tarangnan Samar (Western Samar) VIII

164

Bacon Sorsogon V

165

Castilla Sorsogon V

166

City Of Sorsogon Sorsogon V

167

Matnog Sorsogon V

168

Santa Magdalena Sorsogon V

169

Columbio Sultan Kudarat XII

170

Siasi Sulu ARMM

171

Siasi Sulu ARMM

172

Lingig Surigao Del Sur XIII

173

La Paz Tarlac III

174

Kalawit Zamboanga Del Norte IX

175

La Libertad Zamboanga Del Norte IX

176

Sibuco Zamboanga Del Norte IX

177

Sirawai Zamboanga Del Norte IX

178

Dimataling Zamboanga Del Sur IX

179

Josefina Zamboanga Del Sur IX

180

Kumalarang Zamboanga Del Sur IX

181

Tabina Zamboanga Del Sur IX
Source: Philippine National Police, Commission on Elections

 

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