ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has designated five municipalities in northern Iloilo Province as “election special concern areas” ahead of the May 12 national and local polls, citing intense political rivalries and a history of deadly incidents during previous elections.
Ajuy, Sara, Estancia, Concepcion, and San Dionisio — all located in the province’s 5th District — have been flagged for heightened security monitoring due to what authorities describe as a “volatile political climate.”
“These towns have previously recorded election-related violence, including fatalities. We are not waiting for violence to erupt before taking action,” said PRO-6 regional director Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky during a press briefing at Camp Delgado on May 6.
Wanky clarified that the classification is a proactive measure, not a label of notoriety.
“This is not to stigmatize communities but to ensure that early and sufficient security interventions are in place to prevent any outbreak of violence,” he clarified.
According to Wanky, the designation was based on threat assessments, intelligence reports, and historical data.
He assured that preventive steps — such as increased police presence, checkpoints, and intensified surveillance — are being rolled out to ensure peaceful elections in the affected towns.
The police official also mentioned that certain areas in nearby Capiz’s 1st District are under similar watch, though he withheld their names pending further validation.
He added that PRO-6 is prepared to recommend an upgrade of classification to “election hotspot” if threats escalate, in coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
PRO-6 reiterated its commitment to safeguarding voters. “Ultimately, our mission is to protect both the sanctity of the ballot and the safety of every citizen,” Wanky emphasized.
So far, Western Visayas remains relatively calm, with no major election-related violence reported this year. However, investigators are probing the recent murder of a former official in Kalibo, Aklan for potential political links.
“Initial findings indicate a possible political angle in the Juan Dayang case, but we’re still exploring all leads,” Wanky said.
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation and manhunt following the fatal shooting of veteran journalist and former Kalibo mayor Dayang inside his residence in Barangay Andagao here on the night of April 29.
Police reports indicate that Dayang, 89, was watching television in his living room around 9 p.m. when an unidentified assailant, clad in a black jacket and riding a motorcycle, fired three shots from outside the perimeter fence of his home in Villa Salvacion residential subdivision.
The gunman immediately fled toward Calacuchi Road.
Police Lieutenant Arnel Solis, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), said Dayang was hit in the neck and shoulder and was rushed to the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
Investigators are currently reviewing security camera footage, conducting interviews, and pursuing all possible leads./PN
