Benhur Abalos (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental--Administration senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos hailed the huge progress that this province has made since the aftermath of the broad daylight assassination of the late governor Roel Degamo.

"Nanumbalik ang sigla ng mga tao, nanumbalik ang negosyo. Higit sa lahat people can now come in, they're very secure and confident na maayos na po," Abalos told a press conference here Thursday, Feb. 20.

(The people's vigor has returned, businesses have returned. Most of all people can now come in, they're very secure and confident that there's order.)

"Siguro nanumbalik because they saw the rule of law. Yung mga dapat lagyan, yung mga dapat hulihin, nahuli po. And the rest is with the court, bahala napo ang korte rito para humusga," he said, without mentioning any names.

(I think it returned because they saw the rule of law. Those who needed to be arrested were arrested. And the rest is with the court, it's up to the court to render a verdict.

Iit was on March 4, 2023 when governor Degamo was peppered with bullets just outside his home in Pamplona here. The assailants, allegedly contracted by a political rival, wore uniforms and brandished long firearms.

The shocking incident happened under Abalos' watch as Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary. 

"Nangyari ho dyan noong panahon ko, may nangyari na assassination...mahirap noong mga panahong yun (Something happened during my tenure, there was an assassination...it was a difficult time)," he said.

As DlLG chief, Abalos had supervision over the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"But what is important ay manumbalik sa kapulisan ang tiwala sa gobyerno na kaya nila. Nagpalit po tayo ng kapulisan noon, I think buong police force, pinapalitan po namin, nilipat namin lahat yun. Nagbalasa kami ng mga tao dito," he recalled.

(But what is important is that the people once again trusted the police force and the government that they can handle it. Back then we changed the entire police force, we transferred all of the cops. We ordered a reshuffle of the people here.)

"One thing is important, ang importante rito is (the important thing is) no more killings. No more killings. Yun ang sinasabi ko sa regional director, sa provincial director (That's what I told the regional director and provincial director)," Abalos said.