Senators urge Comelec to put Negros Oriental under its control amid violence

MANILA — A Senate panel on Wednesday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to place Negros Oriental under the poll body's control in the coming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in October, citing concerns on the province's peace and order situation following the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo.

In its fourth hearing on the Degamo slay, Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chairperson Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa recommended to Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia to put Negros Oriental under its control after hearing testimonies of violence in the province.

"I am just recommending to you to please put Negros Oriental under Comelec control to see to it na walang mamamatay. Dahil ang dami ko nang naririnig na patayan, since 2011 [pa iyan]," Dela Rosa said.

"Life is not and must never be made cheap... Human life is precious. The life of a politician, of a journalist, of a police officer, the life of every ordinary citizen. Ito ang treasure natin kaya nararapat na pangalagaan at pahalagahan natin ito," he added in his opening statement.

Garcia assured the panel that the poll body would urgently look into the matter once it has the power to put certain areas of the country under its control when the election period begins on Aug. 28.

He added that the decision whether to place Negros Oriental under Comelec control or not depends on the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"Gagawin po ng komisyon, once na magsimula na po ang election period... Kasi magkakaroon kami ng command conference with the AFP and PNP, and we will definitely insist that as far as the issue of Negros is concerned, mabigyan kaagad ng tamang gabay ang komisyon," Garcia said.

In earlier hearing, Sen. Robin Padilla had raised the idea of a military takeover in Negros Oriental to end to alleged impunity in the province.

• Military control, postpone polls? Senators suggest Negros Oriental measures

Sen. Francis Tolentino, meanwhile, proposed to postpone the upcoming barangay and youth elections in Negros Oriental due to the volatile situation in the province.

During Wednesday's hearing, Garcia supported the recommended postponement.

• Suspension of barangay, SK polls in Negros Oriental sought amid 'political climate'

However, due to gray areas in the existing election rules and procedures, Garcia said the poll body would conduct hearings across the province on the idea to ensure due process.

Once the hearings are completed, Garcia added, Comelec would then decide whether to postpone or push through with the Oct. 30 elections by the second or third week of September.

Security forces assigned to Negros Oriental and Central Visayas expressed support for the proposals.

Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7) director BGen. Anthony Aberin said he was supportive of postponing the barangay polls in Negros Oriental so that the entire Central Visayas police force could concentrate on the province once the elections in other areas were done.

Philippine Army Third Infantry Division assistant commander BGen. Leonardo Peña, an official of Joint Task Force Negros, also said that more troops would be needed to secure Negros Oriental's 557 barangays. This, despite a deployment of additional forces in the province last March following Degamo's assassination.

• AFP says no militarization in Negros after deployment of troops

On Wednesday, another batch of resource persons gave their testimonies on the spate of violence hounding the province.

Days before the hearing, another victim of the armed attack that killed Degamo on Mar. 4 died last Sunday. With this, the death toll from the so-called "Pamplona massacre" climbed to 10.

• Degamo bloodbath toll climbs to 10 as another victim dies

RELATED VIDEO:

Watch more News on iWantTFC