Tolentino seeks postponement of Barangay, SK polls in Negros Oriental; here's why
Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino wants the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Negros Oriental to be deferred amid the current peace and order situation in that province. Tolentino made the proposal during the continuation of the inquiry of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chaired by Senator Ronald ‘’Bato’’ dela Rosa on Wednesday, April 19 in connection with the March 4 assassination of former Governor Roel Degamo as well as other pending cases of violence in Negros Oriental. “Kung sasang-ayunan niyo po ako—of course, this is with the concurrence of other colleagues and the Commission on Elections (Comelec)—i-postpone po natin ang Barangay [and Sangguniang Kabataan] elections sa Negros Oriental (If there is an agreement on this, this is with the concurrence of other colleagues and the Comelec)…Kung i-postpone po iyon magkakaroon ng mas malakas na momentum ang ating peacekeeping forces (If there is a postponement, there will be stronger momentum for our peacekeeping forces). Pagkatapos ng ibang trabaho, mame-maintain 'yung law and order sa Negros Oriental (After other work, law and order will be maintained in Negros Oriental),’’ Tolentino said. Tolentino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, warned that the present political atmosphere in Negros Oriental may lead to further chaos, especially if the Barangay and SK polls would be allowed to proceed in the province this coming last week of October. The lawmaker from Cavite asked the leadership of the Senate panel chaired by Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to once again invite, in the next scheduled hearing, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia in connection with the proposal. Degamo's widow, Pamplona town Mayor Janice Degamo, welcomed the proposition made by Tolentino, saying that it would definitely help pacify the current political climate in her province. Tolentino earlier asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to set-up a Special Prosecution Task Force in Negros Oriental which would help hasten the progress of violence-related cases pending before various trial courts in the said province.