Comelec to candidates: Don't resort to violence

CEBU, Philippines — Dumaguete City The Commission on Election (Comelec) for the newly-formed Negros Island Region (NIR) is asking for candidates in the upcoming 2025 midterm election to help maintain the peace by not resorting to violence and intimidation tactics.

This was the request of Comelec-NIR Regional Director, Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, when asked on the current peace and safety situation in the region, which he said has been peaceful since the start of registration of voters and the filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC).

“We would appeal to our candidates not to resort to forced violence and intimidation. Because in the end, it would not be good for Negros Region to (be) placed under Comelec Control as it would connote a bad reputation that the place is not peaceful considering that Negros Oriental is a retirees’ haven,” said Castillano.

“Foreigners are coming here to retire, investment opportunities abound, so it would not be good for the economy and tourism,” he added.

Castillano has earlier disclosed the possibility of having the NIR under Comelec control, the same way it was during last year’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election. Fortunately, no election-related incident was recorded during the BSKE.

According to Comelec Resolution 3618, putting a place under Comelec control has several grounds, including those with “intense political rivalry between or among candidates; political factions or parties; or the presence of paramilitary forces, private armies or identifiable armed bands widely perceived to have committed terrorism; fraud or other election irregularities in past electoral exercises, or other analogous circumstances that threaten or tend to disrupt the holding of free, peaceful, honest, orderly and credible elections.”

But Castillano clarified that it’s only a possibility and the assessment would be done after the filing of the COCs.

“The possibility is there but you must remember the assessment of our police and military…karon is wala naman private armed groups sa Negros Oriental, Occidental and Siquijor. Hopefully this will be sustained,” the Comelec official said.

The Comelec placed Negros Oriental under Comelec control last year due to the assassination of then Governor Roel Degamo, as well as nine others, with more injured, after a group of armed men entered the governor’s house in Pamplona town, Leyte and fired gunshots.

Further, Castillano stressed the need to have everyone’s help in maintaining the peace and order as currently, NIR still does not have a police regional office.

But Castillano said they hope to have this soon since all three governors of Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor have signed the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) for the NIR implementation.

Castillano explained that with a police regional office, the region can also have it Regional Mobile Force Battalion.

“So if ever there is a need to add more (police) for Negros Oriental (during election period), mas makadali mi makapangayo kaysa if mangayo pa sa region-7. The Regional Mobile Force Batallion in CV would be spread too thin for four provices kay Cebu and Bohol dako kaayo ang land area and daghan cities and municipalities… usahay ang Negros Oriental dili gyud mahatag. Good thing last barangay election, we focused it here kay gi Comelec control ang NegOR,” he said.

NIR has 63 towns and cities with Negros Oriental having 25, Negros Occidental with 32 including Bacolod City, which has the highest population, and Siquijor with six.

More importantly, Castillano stressed on the need for regional police for NIR since the declaration for Comelec control would come from the Regional Joint Security Control Center, which would include the regional police, among other agencies.

“I need my PNP regional director counterpart in convening the RJSCC,” he said. - AJ de la Torre-Orong (CEBU NEWS)