CEBU CITY – The move to place Negros Oriental under Commission on Elections (Comelec) control in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections is a precautionary and proactive measure, Comelec-Central Visayas Director Lionel Marco Castillano said.
Castillano said placing the province under Comelec control is meant to prevent disturbance in the October 30 elections.
He said the Comelec en banc has rejected calls to postpone the elections in Negros Oriental but placed the province under its control which means it has direct supervision over officials and employees and full control over law enforcement agencies.
“It doesn’t mean that the province is chaotic. The purpose of putting the province under Comelec control is to ensure a peaceful, fair, and successful elections,” Castillano told reporters on Tuesday, September 19.
A three-day public consultation was held in the province last June after calls for the postponement of the election in the province were made following the assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo.
Castillano said the Comelec will soon release its operational plan or guidelines after placing the province under its control.
“Rest assured, your PNP (Philippine National Police), AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), and Comelec will be ready for this election. We will be more empowered that the Negros Oriental is now in Comelec control. The reason for placing Negros Oriental under Comelec control is just a precautionary measure that no untoward incident will disrupt the holding of free and orderly election in Negros Oriental,” Castillano said.
By placing the province under its control, Comelec has the power to relieve or deploy police and military personnel, said Castillano.
“We could direct the PPA (Philippine Port Authority) to ensure stricter measures in the ports. We could also impose certain guidelines on the release of funds from local government units so that they may not be used in partisan political activity,” Castillano said.
Negros Oriental has a voting population of 800,000 and the Comelec is hoping for a high turnout in the election.
The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) is ready to send more personnel to Negros Oriental.
“In the coming days, we will be able to determine the exact number of personnel that will be sent to the province based on the assessment of the Comelec,” said Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of PRO-7 chief Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin.