The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started updating its list of election areas of immediate concern for security adjustments as part of the preparations for next year’s national polls.

But Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, said they would defer the release of their updated list, saying the areas that would be included could either increase or decrease depending on the assessments that would be made after the filing of the certificates of candidacy (CoCs) ends on December 1.

“The list (of election hot spots) will be released either first week or second week of December,” said Espina.

The list is currently with the PNP-Directorate for Intelligence, the police unit tasked to conduct the assessment of the areas included in the list.

Espina said they still have to wait for the personalities that would file their CoCs since those who would run especially for local posts is also a determining factor on whether or not an area could be included in the list of election hot spots.

The official explained that candidates who were involved in election-related violent incidents in the past could drag the area where he would seek public office into the hot spot list. Candidates who have a history of maintaining private armed groups, on the other hand, will also be monitored.

In declaring an area as possible election hot spot for the 2010 polls, among the major considerations are the history of violence in the past two elections and the presence of armed threat groups such as the New People’s Army, Abu Sayyaf Group and even Moro rebel groups.