The Philippine National Police (PNP) will identify “high-risk” politicians in the list of local candidates for the 2010 polls which will form the basis for the declaration of election hot spots, a PNP officer said.

This is why the PNP has not yet finalized the list of possible areas of immediate concern for next year’s elections to be submitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), said Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina.

“We will probably come up with the list (of election hot spots) after the last day of filing of the certificate of candidacy,” Espina told reporters in a press briefing.

The official explained that candidates who have been involved in some 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 history of maintaining private armed groups will also be monitored, he said.

In declaring an area as possible election hot spot for 2010 polls, police will consider 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 Moro separatists.

Espina said assessments of the threats on the life of candidates for next year’s polls will also be considered in mapping out security in every town or provinces.

“Our goal is to prevent election related violent incidents next year as part of the PNP’s mandate of maintaining peace and order,” said Espina.

Earlier, Director General Jesus Verzosa, PNP chief, said they have already come up with an updated list of possible election hot spots but would not release it to the media, saying it is still being assessed by the Directorate for Intelligence.

Police are banking on an aggressive campaign against loose firearms to effectively reduce cases of election-related violent incidents next year, aside from the gun ban that the PNP seeks from the Comelec, he said.