Iloilo not included in Comelec election hotspot list
Provincial and concurrent City Election Officer Atty. Elizabeth Doronila said she has yet to receive official communication from Commission on Elections (Comelec) national office declaring Iloilo province as election "hotspot."
However, she said the commission has received recommendations to declare the towns of Igbaras and Estancia in Iloilo as election hotspots.
Earlier, rumors spread that Iloilo would be declared an election hotspot due to the recent Capitol incident involving Governor Niel Tupas and elements of the Philippine National Police.
Doronila recalled that she and her staff personally conducted inspections at the provincial Capitol after receiving information that there were presence of armed men inside the building.
Doronila, however, said they have not found armed men inside the Capitol building except the provincial guards and the blue guards from the Illustrious Security Agency.
An area is considered an election hotspot if there is intense political rivalry, presence of insurgents, and incidents of violence or ballot snatching and history of political harassment in previous elections.
Doronila said what they have in their office is the recommendation of Col. Edgardo Gidaya, commanding officer of the 301st Brigade of the Philippine Army to declare the municipality of Igbaras in the southern part of Iloilo as election hotspot because of the presence of insurgents.
She said the recommendation is not new to them as in previous elections, the town of Igbaras is always considered as election hotspot because of the presence of insurgents in the municipality.
On the part of Estancia town the recommendation to declare it an election hotspot is due to the expected intense political rivalry between incumbent Mayor Rene Cordero and his rumored challenger retired Gen. Boy Mosqueda.