PHILIPPINE authorities have provided different data on the number of so-called hotspots in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) set on Oct. 30, 2023.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is closely monitoring about 300 (villages) barangay in Western Mindanao or the Zamboanga Peninsula region, the Caraga Region, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm), the Bicol Region, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Central Luzon due to the presence of rebels and private armies.