MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/17 October) — About 62 of 464 barangays in Bukidnon are included in the Philippine National Police’s list of critical areas for the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 25.
The Bukidnon provincial police office identified 29 “critical” and 33 “less critical” barangays in eight towns and two cities.
Police Senior Superintendent Nerio Bermudo, chief of the Bukidnon Police Provincial Office (BPPO), identified some barangays that could be considered as areas of concern. He clarified the words the police regional office use are “critical” and “less critical”.
Bermudo did not reveal the names of barangays saying it would go through further verification process, the report added.
But he identified eight towns with barangays considered critical as Cabanglasan, Dangcagan, Don Carlos, Impasug-ong, Kitaotao, Pangantucan, Quezon and San Fernando and the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia.
Malaybalay City has 11 barangays classified in the list, mostly from Upper Pulangi district.
Valencia City has two critical and two less critical areas.
Cabanglasan has two critical barangays; Dangcagan (two less critical); Don Carlos (one less critical); Impasug-ong (one critical and three less critical); Kitaotao (five critical and eight less critical); Pangantucan (five less critical); Quezon (six critical and three less critical) and San Fernando (two critical and seven less critical).
Bermudo confirmed that most of the barangays that are in the list have insurgency problems.
He said the data was based on reports submitted by the chiefs of police in the province.
The village-level elections late this month is the first ever after the automated elections in May 2010 and the first under President Benigno Aquino III.
The Commission on Elections has opted to conduct manual counting for the October 25 elections. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)