MANILA - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Friday it would employ a color coding system for identifying election hotspots or watchlist areas.

The color coding system will initially be used for the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a press briefing.

The poll body previously used the terms "areas of concern" and "immediate areas of concern" in labeling election hotspots.

Under the new system, the colors green, yellow, orange and red, will determine the degree of election-related violence linked to a particular area.

Green hotspots mean there is no cause for concern in the area. Areas tagged yellow are those that have a history of election-related violence, while orange areas are those with armed and rebel groups.

Red areas, meanwhile, are "critical areas" with a history of election-related violence and where armed and rebel groups could be found.

Jimenez said law enforcement agencies have yet to confirm any election-related violence to date despite certain incidents being reported in the news.

“Mayroon na mga reports na mga incidents involving personalities na may connection sa barangay. Pero sa ngayon, wala pa naki-clear na election-related. Inaantabayanan natin 'yan.” Jimenez said.

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