15 areas in Cebu, Bohol tagged as watchlist zones

Eleven days before the 2025 midterm elections, the Commission on Elections in Central Visayas (Comelec-7) has tagged 15 areas in Cebu and Bohol under the yellow category due to potential election-related concerns.

- Jonnavie Villa, Staff Member

Comelec-7 Regional Director Atty. Francisco Pobe confirmed this after the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) meeting held on April 28, which was attended by Comelec-7, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The areas in Cebu classified under the yellow category include Daanbantayan, Argao, Cebu City, Mandaue City, San Fernando, Dalaguete, Balamban, and Dumanjug.

In Bohol, the areas are San Miguel, Buenavista, Trinidad, Ubay, Inabanga, Tubigon, and Tagbilaran City.

Pobe noted that the RJSCC meeting served to validate and finalize the election watchlist of areas in Central Visayas based on recommendations from Local Joint Security Control Centers (LJSCC) in the concerned municipalities and cities.

The list will now be submitted to the Comelec central office for reference.

Based on previous reports from The Freeman, areas under the yellow category are those with histories of election-related threats, intense political rivalries, and incidents of intimidation during past elections.