MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has identified 108 areas of concern ahead of the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections.

Based on data released by the poll body as of July 29, a total of 26 areas were placed under the red category, which covers localities with serious armed threats and a history of election-related incidents.

Of the red areas, 21 are in Lanao del Sur, two in Maguindanao del Sur, and one each in Basilan, Maguindanao del Norte and the Special Geographic Areas (SGAs).

The Comelec also placed 41 areas under the yellow category, indicating areas with a history of election-related incidents. These include 14 in Lanao del Sur, 10 in Maguindanao del Sur, eight in Maguindanao del Norte, five in Basilan and four in the SGAs.

Twenty-three areas were classified under the orange category, which covers localities facing serious armed threats. These include 11 in Maguindanao del Sur, five in Lanao del Sur, three in the SGAs, and two each in Basilan and Maguindanao del Norte.

Meanwhile, 18 areas were placed under the green category, indicating no election-related security concerns. These consist of 11 areas in Tawi-Tawi, four in Basilan, two in Maguindanao del Norte and one in Maguindanao del Sur.

No areas in Tawi-Tawi were classified under the yellow, orange or red categories.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia expressed optimism that the number of red-category areas would decline before election day.

“I think the number of areas in the red category will decrease. Incumbent governors and mayors won’t allow the peace and order in their localities to be disrupted, as that would reflect poorly on them,” Garcia said in a Viber message.

The BARMM parliamentary elections are scheduled on Sept. 14.