Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino 

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental–Reelectionist Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino says he has always believed that Negros Oriental in the Negros Island Region (NIR) is a peaceful province.

Tolentino, a member of the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate, had this to say Thursday, Feb. 20 when asked in a press conference how the Senate could address the issue of political violence here.

Instances of political violence have affected perceptions about peace and order in the province in the past.

“I've always believed that this is a peaceful province...I think it has normalized, it will normalize and I think this province will be a frontliner in terms of NIR development,” the senator said, a day before the Alyansa bets were set to barnstorm neighboring Bacolod in Negros Occidental.

A law professor at the local Silliman University, Tolentino expressed confidence that  tourism and businesses in the province will benefit from improved peace and order under the reconstituted region.

“Sa batas na NIR, malaki-laking puwersa ng kapulisan ang itatalaga sa rehiyon, para po sa tatlong lalawigan na yan ng Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, at Siquijor,” he noted.

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(“Under the NIR Law, a significantly sized police force will look after the region, for the three provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.”)

The senator pointed out that the regional police force now would be concentrated, unlike when Negros Oriental was grouped with the island provinces of Cebu and Bohol as part of Central Visayas (Region 7).

The senator strongly supported the passage of the measure creating the NIR, which was signed as Republic Act (RA) No.12000 by President Marcos in June 2024.