Comelec to Look Closely at Candidate Behavior in Identifying BSKE Hotspots

Posted on July 5, 2026 at 7:51 am

TACLOBAN CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Eastern Visayas said it will place greater attention on the behavior of candidates in identifying election hotspots for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), alongside a review of areas with a history of election-related tension in the region.

Comelec officials said hotspot mapping will no longer rely solely on past election incidents but will also consider how candidates conduct themselves during the campaign period, which often shapes whether a community remains peaceful or becomes tense.

Comelec Eastern Visayas Director Atty. Nick Mendros said barangay elections are highly personal contests where local relationships often influence the level of political tension.

“Barangay elections are very personal. The atmosphere depends heavily on the candidates themselves,” Mendros said.

He explained that in previous elections in Eastern Visayas, several areas in Leyte, Samar, and Northern Samar were placed under close monitoring due to incidents of election-related violence, intense political rivalries, and reported intimidation.

Among the areas previously identified as election hotspots were parts of Leyte’s third and fourth legislative districts, several municipalities in Samar province, and selected towns in Northern Samar where election-related shooting incidents and harassment cases were recorded during past electoral exercises.

Officials said these areas will again be reviewed as part of historical data assessment but stressed that candidate behavior will now be a major factor in determining whether a locality will be classified as a hotspot.

“The assessment of hotspots cannot rely only on what happened in previous elections,” Mendros said. “We also look at the candidates. If they are disciplined and respectful of the process, the situation usually stays peaceful. But if tensions rise among them, even areas that were previously calm can become problematic.”

Comelec said a more accurate assessment will only be possible after the filing of Certificates of Candidacy from September 28 to October 5, when the full list of candidates in each barangay will be known.

Officials added that preparations are ongoing with security forces, including a review of historical data and plans to reactivate the Regional Joint Security Control Center once voter data, precinct clusters, and election personnel requirements are finalized.

The 2026 BSKE is scheduled for November 2.

Photo credit: COMELEC Region 8