The conduct of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) went "very peaceful" in Visayas, including in Negros Oriental which was placed under Commission on Elections (Comelec) control due to a history of violence, the military said on Monday, Oct. 30.
Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the Visayas Command (VISCOM), said only "minor incidents" were recorded by the military when the voting closed at 3 p.m.
"Everything [is] very peaceful. There are no major incidents. It went smoothly. In Negros, we have just received a report that the situation is okay. There's no violent [incident] as of now," Arevalo said.
Among the minor incidents recorded in the entire region included violations of liquor ban, illegal possession of firearms, and alleged vote-buying incidents.
Negros Oriental was placed under Comelec control to prevent violence on the day of BSKE following the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
It can be recalled that Degamo was shot dead by a group of armed men who stormed his home in Pamplona town on March 4.
Arevalo attributed the peaceful elections in Visayas to the efforts of the Comelec, Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
He thanked the voting public for their cooperation with the relevant government agencies and security forces.