The Cavite Police Provincial Office has tagged Carmona town as an election hot spot that has to be closely watched during the election period.

Lawyer Juanito V. Ravanzo Jr., Cavite Commission on Elections supervisor, said there were six towns and one city in the watch list last month. Carmona, a first-class urban municipality, was the latest town added to the CPPO watch list.

Supt. Josemarte T. Paras, CPPO deputy director for administration, said there are now nine areas—two cities and seven towns, including Carmona—in the list.

Carmona has 14 barangays (villages) and a population of 68,135, based on the latest census reports. Dubbed as a “Center for Investments and Sports,” the town is one of the fastest developing areas in Cavite.

The Provincial Comelec said Carmona has 38,643 registered voters and four candidates running for mayor, two for vice mayor and 17 for councilor.

Incumbent Mayor Roy Loyola is on his last term as the top municipal executive after he was elected to the position three times since 2001. Those vying to replace him are his wife, Doctor Dahlia A. Loyola of the Liberal Party (LP), Rosalinda G. Camba of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Anselmo T. Hernandez and Ambrosio D. Restrivera, both independent candidates.

Competing for the second top local position are incumbent Vice Mayor Cesar N. Ines (LP) and Porfirio E. Hebron Jr. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD).