Election season is a highly sensitive period in the Philippines. Between the beginning of the election period on January 12 and April 28, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed 35 incidents of election-related violence (ERV) resulting in 13 fatalities and 16 injuries.
The numbers come amid the nationwide gun ban, effective until the end of the election period on June 11. The gun ban seeks to prevent ERV incidents, but as early as 2024, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) already validated 12 out of 120 incidents the PNP suspected to be election-related.
The Comelec has identified at least 403 “areas of concern” across the country, which are classified as red, orange, and yellow depending on the severity of the cases.
Yellow zones have a presence of suspected election-related incidents, intense political rivalries, potential hiring of private armed groups, or politically motivated election-related incidents, or were previously declared under Comelec control. Orange zones have a presence of serious armed threats or at least two factors from category yellow. Red zones have a presence of serious armed threats and at least one factor from category yellow, and can be placed under Comelec control, which means the commission can deploy security forces and implement policies to ensure safe elections.
With the elections happening on Monday, May 12, here are four of the most dangerous regions during the election period.
Cordillera Region
The Cordillera Administrative Region in northern Luzon has recorded 11 ERV incidents — the most among all regions in the country. In the province of Abra, nine cities or municipalities have been identified as areas of concern, three classified as orange and six yellow.
Area Police Command Northern Luzon (APC-NL) Acting Commander Major General Ronnie Francis Cariaga told the Philippine Information Agency that crime incidents in Abra increased in 2025 in comparison to previous election periods. In response, the police formed Task Force Abra to ensure public safety on election day.
Negros Island Region
According to Comelec, all cities and municipalities in the province of Negros Oriental have been flagged as areas of concern, with neighboring Guihulngan City and La Libertad classified as red. In Negros Occidental, only the municipality of Candoni is classified as orange.
The Pamplona massacre in March 2023 saw the death of then-Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo after former members of the military stormed his residence in the municipality of Pamplona to kill him and nine others. The assassination is suspected by the Department of Justice to be politically-motivated and masterminded by former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., who has fled the country.
Eastern Visayas
Comelec has also flagged 27 hotspots in Eastern Visayas, with 10 areas in Leyte, 10 in Northern Samar, and seven in Samar. The municipality of Santa Margarita, Samar is considered a red zone due to a reported history of intense political rivalry and the presence of armed groups. In January 2024, a 20-minute shootout between police and the Ampoan “criminal” group in the town resulted in three cops killed and four more injured.
Bangsamoro Region
The Bangsamoro Region has the second highest number of ERV incidents in the country, with eight recorded and verified cases. Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte was placed under Comelec control in April 2025 after election officer Maceda Abo and her husband were ambushed and killed in March. Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur was also placed under Comelec control after provincial board candidate Muhammad Utti Omar and his driver were ambushed and injured in April.
Maguindanao del Sur was also the site of the Ampatuan massacre in November 2009, where 58 were kidnapped and killed. The number includes journalists, supporters, and family of then-Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, who had sent out female relatives on his behalf to file his certificate of candidacy for the governorship amid threats to his security.
