Following the peaceful conduct of the Baranggay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is now gearing up for an upcoming special poll in Negros Oriental in December to fill up the post vacated by expelled representative Arnolfo Teves Jr.
Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the Visayas Command (VisCom), expressed their readiness to support the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in ensuring a peaceful and safe conduct of the special election in the third legislative district of Negros Oriental on Dec. 9.
"We are prepared and ready to support the Comelec and the PNP once called upon to serve in the upcoming special election," Arevalo said.
According to Comelec Resolution No. 10945, the filing of candidacy is scheduled on Monday, Nov. 06, while the campaign period will be from Nov. 09 to Dec. 7.
"At present, coordination with the Comelec is being undertaken for the guidelines in the conduct of the special election for us to align our security plan," the VisCom chief noted.
To iron out their security plan, Arevalo headed a staff conference attended by top ranking officers of the VisCom at their headquarters in Camp Lapulapu, Cebu City.
The third district of Negros Oriental is being considered to be placed under Comelec control for the special elections, according to poll chief George Erwin Garcia.
The special election will be held to fill the district’s vacant seat for the remainder of the 19th Congress.
The vacancy arose when the House of Representatives expelled Teves, the incumbent representative of the third district of Negros Oriental, for abandonment of public office and indecent behavior after being tagged as the mastermind in the March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
“The people can be assured of a safe and secured special election this coming December 09. In the last Barangay and SK elections, our security efforts covered the entire province, this time, we’ll only have to focus in the third district. If there is a need for us to add additional troops, then we will do so,” Arevalo said.