ZAMBOANGA CITY ? Police has tapped 888 policemen to serve as Special Election Board (SEB) members in place of teachers in the two Bangsamoro provinces of Lanao and Basilan, where 31 areas have been tagged as potential election hotspots by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

About 739 of the 888 policemen were assigned in Lanao del Sur while the remaining 149 in Basilan province.

Of the 31 areas flagged as potential election hotspots, 20 are located in Lanao del Sur while the remaining 11 in Basilan.

Col. Robert Daculan, Lanao del Sur police director, said the 739 cops deployed in his area of operation are from Davao Region (Region 11), Soccsksargen (Region 12) and Caraga (Region 13).

The Armed Forces of the Philippines sent 200 more soldiers to reinforce troops in rendering election security in Basilan. DMS