Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 28) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) began its public consultations on the postponement of the barangay and SK elections (BSKE) in Negros Oriental on Tuesday, with stakeholders presenting their respective positions on the issue.
Consultations were held at the police provincial office in Sibulan and in Dumaguete City.
In the forum, Msgr. Julius Heruela from the Diocese of Dumaguete City proposed to delay to a later date the elections, citing the volatile peace and order situation in the province after the murder of Gov. Roel Degamo and eight of his constituents.
The diocese said it believes barangay officials play a crucial role in the political system, and that the right of suffrage must be exercised freely without any threat or fear.
At least nine mayors of Negros Oriental, including the governor’s widow Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, had urged the poll body to postpone the BSKE elections in the province amid a “lingering atmosphere of terror” after the killings.
In the public hearing, the lawyer of Mayor Degamo said they were in favor of holding the polls on Oct. 30, but only if additional troops are deployed to the province.
Edward Du, president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI), opposed the postponement, referring to the rejection of the previous appeal of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) governors to move their elections to a later date. He said postponing the BSKE in Negros Oriental would create a negative scenario for potential investors.
Speaking to CNN Philippines, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the consultations were conducted to get the people’s opinion on the matter.
“Kasama na rin ang mga citizen’s arm, ang civil society, ang mga media, ang mga estudyante, kasama na rin ang mga guro — ano ba talaga ang kanilang gusto?” Garcia said, adding that a decision would be made by the first week of October at the latest.
[Translation: The citizen’s arm, civil society, the media, students, and teachers are included — what do they really want?]
Garcia cited a report from the provincial director of the Philippine National Police on Tuesday, which indicated that the crime rate in the province has gone down.
“Bumababa ang crime rate, patuloy na bumababa tapos bigla ka magpo-postpone ng election doon parang hindi tugma yung ebidensya pagkatapos yun ang magiging desisyon namin,” he said.
[Translation: The crime rate continues to go down and if we suddenly postpone the elections there, the evidence might not support the decision that we will make.]
The Comelec also said it may consider a localized postponement of the BSKE in Negros Oriental.
“Unfair naman po dun sa ibang lugar na hindi apektado ng karahasan, kung meron man. — para namang bakit naman lalahatin kung pwede namang per municipality o per barangay na lang ang postponement ng eleksyon,” he said.
[Translation: It would be unfair to other areas not affected by violence, if there is any. Why should we include everyone when the postponement can be per municipality or per barangay.]
