Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 27) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said it may consider a localized postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in Negros Oriental.
\”Kung wala namang ebidensya talaga na may takot ang kababayan natin sa ilang bayan dito sa Negros, bakit mo naman idadamay ‘yung ibang bayan,\” Comelec Chairman George Garcia told a press briefing.
[Translation: If there’s no evidence that our countrymen in some towns here in Negros are afraid, why include those towns?]
On Monday, nine mayors urged Comelec to postpone the BSKE, citing a \”lingering atmosphere of terror\” in the aftermath of the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo, and other political killings.
The joint statement was signed by Degamo’s widow and Pampolona Mayor Janice Degamo along with the mayors of Dauin, San Jose, Dumaguete, Bindoy, Siaton, Ayungon, Guihulngan, and Tayasan.
The Diocesan Electoral Board of Dumaguete is also in favor of postponing or delaying the Oct. 30 polls by a month.
The electoral board said there is a “political crisis” in the province manifested through Degamo’s murder last March 4.
\”A summation of ugly politics in the province. The election of the barangay and SK officials in Negros Oriental are now visibly politicized, and highly influenced by partisan politics,\” read the statement.
Comelec is currently conducting a three-day consultation on the matter, but said coming up with a decision will take a while as it will have to establish a legal basis for the postponement.
Under the Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code, the Commission, motu proprio, has the power to postpone an election if there are \”violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, and other analogous causes of such a nature that the holding of a free, orderly, and honest election.\”
Garcia said they will release a decision by the last week of September up to the first week of October.
\”Whatever the decision is of the Commission will always be based on whatever is the interest of the province and the interest of what democracy is all about,\” he said.
