The provincial Philippine National Police command is preparing for the worse scenario in the May 2007 polls in some areas, S/Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe said yesterday.

The Commission on Elections office in Oriental Negros is requesting the police to monitor at least eight local government units to prevent violence from erupting due to bickering over political supremacy. These are Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, Guihulngan, Ayungon, Bais, Tanjay, Zamboanguita and Bacong.

A tense situation is developing in these areas due to intense political rivalry, coupled with the insurgency problem, he said. Comelec Provincial supervisor Manuel Advincula, however, refused to declare these areas as election hotspots saying these could be controlled.

Canlaon has a history of election-related violence, Vallehermoso has a suspended mayor, in Guihulngan, two Parases are vying for congressional position, Bais City also has a delicate situation where vengeance between two groups could erupt, and conflicts are also brewing in Tanjay City and Bacong.

In the third district, two Teveses are slugging it out for the congressional seat.

On the problem of insurgency, the hinterland barangays of Zamboanguita are also being monitored by the police and COMELEC.*JG

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