MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday announced it has placed Marawi City and 7 other municipalities in Mindanao under its control, citing recommendations from the government security forces.

• Lessons learned from Marawi siege, gov't officials say
• TIMELINE: The Battle for Marawi

Thirteen days before the May 9 elections, Comelec put under their control 8 areas in Mindanao, namely:

IN MAGUINDANAO

• Buluan
• Datu Odin Sinsuat
• Datu Piang
• Mangudadatu
• Pandag
• Sultan Kudarat

IN LANAO DEL SUR

• Marawi City
• Maguing

Marawi City was the “ground zero” of 5 month-long battle government security forces and the ISIS-linked Maute group.

• Four years after Marawi siege: Then and Now

"Upon the joint recommendation of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines and Regional Election Director Ray Sumalipao, the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC) placed [has placed these areas] under COMELEC control," Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said in a statement.

Earlier, the Comelec also put under their control Tubaran and Malabang towns in Lanao del Sur.

• 2 Lanao del Sur towns placed under Comelec control

Under Comelec Resolution No. 10757, an area can be put under Comelec control in the following circumstances:

1. History of/or current intense rivalry among contending parties
2. Incidents of politically-motivated violence involving aspirants/candidates and other supporters
3. Violence may be facilitated by the employment of Private Armed Groups
4. Serious armed threats posed by violent groups

The Comelec has identified 104 "areas of election concern" nationwide, the disclosure of which it withheld pending "monitoring."

• Comelec identifies 104 areas of concern for May 9 polls

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Watch more News on iWantTFC