Mandaue City, 3 Cebu towns on 'watchlist'

At least five areas in Central Visayas, including four in Cebu, have been recommended for classification under the yellow category as election areas of concern due to heightened political tension ahead of the 2025 national and local elections.

- Kristin de Dios, Staff Member

The areas include Mandaue City and the towns of Daanbantayan, Dalaguete, and Argao in Cebu, as well as San Miguel in Bohol.

Commission on Elections (Comelec-7) regional director Atty. Francisco Pobe told reporters that the recommendation came from the Local Joint Security Control Center (LJSCC) in each of the concerned areas.

The LJSCC is composed of local representatives from the Comelec, Philippine National Police (PNP), and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who are tasked with assessing local peace and order conditions ahead of the election period.

Pobe clarified that the recommendation was based on the assessments and evaluations of the AFP and PNP, but confirmation from the Comelec is still required.

He added that the recommendation will undergo validation during the upcoming Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) meeting on April 28.

"Ipaabot pa na ang recommendation sa RJSCC because it has to be confirmed," said Pobe.