Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 30) — The election period in Negros Oriental will not end after the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) as voters in the province’s third district are set to choose their new representative on Dec. 9.
READ: Special election to replace ex-Negros Oriental Rep. Teves set for Dec. 9
This is after Arnolfo Teves Jr., the alleged mastermind of the killing of Gov. Roel Degamo, was designated a terrorist on Aug. 1 by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) and, in turn, expelled from the House of Representatives on Aug. 16.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez is the district’s caretaker.
Aspirants will have to file their certificates of candidacies from Nov. 6 to 8, just a week after the Oct. 30 local polls.
Who are the possible candidates?
Pryde Henry Teves to run?
When asked if he would be running for the post vacated by his elder brother, former Gov. Pryde Henry Teves — who was also designated as a terrorist by the ATC — told CNN Philippines: “Possible. Why not?”
He made the statement during a chance interview after he voted for the village and youth polls at Villareal Elementary School in Bayawan City, a known stronghold of the Teveses.
“Sa [In the] barangay elections, sa nakikita ko [I think], if more or less the leaders that supported us are still the leaders that people support, then more or less may gauge ka na [you already have a gauge],” he added.
“We have a good bench,” the younger Teves also said. “We have mayors that have very good experience, good wisdom dynamic, mayors who have been there and done that. It’s just a matter of choosing among the leadership who will stand and lift the banner on our behalf.”
Under the Republic Act 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the ATC may designate an individual or a group upon finding probable cause that they commit, or attempt to commit, or conspire in the commission of terrorism and other related acts. The Anti-Money Laundering Council will freeze the assets of those tagged as terrorists.
In an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source on Aug. 1, Pryde Henry said his designation as part of the alleged “Teves Terrorist Group” came as a shock. His camp is studying if he can appeal the decision.
But the group is yet to be proscribed as a terrorist organization. The proscription proceedings are done in the Court of Appeals and an arrest warrant can be issued.
In an interview with The Source on Aug 2., Justice department spokesperson Mico Clavano was mum when asked if the ATC would file a proscription case against the “Teves Terrorist Group.”
The Anti-Terrorism Act states that public officials or employees found guilty of terrorism shall be charged with “the administrative offense of grave misconduct and/or disloyalty to the Republic of the Philippines and the Filipino people, and be meted with the penalty of dismissal from the service, with the accessory penalties of cancellation of civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual absolute disqualification from running for any elective office or holding any public office.”
Comelec en banc annulled Pryde Henry’s victory during the 2022 general elections as Negros Oriental governor after the votes gained by Grego Gaudia were transferred to Degamo. Teves held the gubernatorial post from June to October 2022.
Gaudia used the nickname “Ruel Degamo,” and the Comelec considered him a nuisance bet.
In February, the Supreme Court dismissed Teves’ petitions to reclaim his position.
Teves was also the district’s representative from 2007 to 2016.
How about Janice Degamo?
Janice Degamo, the widow of the slain governor, said her camp is still studying the implications of the move as she is the incumbent mayor of Pamplona town.
She told CNN Philippines they will be finalizing their moves after the barangay elections.
“I subjected myself to another survey…palagi kong sinasabing hindi naman necessarily ako ‘yun [I always said it’s not necessarily me], but I am willing to give way to someone who will do better in the surveys,” she said.
The legal barrier she may possibly face is the residency requirement.
Pamplona is within Negros Oriental’s second district, so she is technically not a current resident of the province’s third district.
According to the 1987 Constitution, aspirants for the House of Representatives must be at least 25 years old, able to read and write, and registered voters in the district in which they will be elected on the day of the polls, as well as residents of the district for at least one year immediately preceding the election day.
In an interview with CNN Philippines’ News Night on Aug. 16, Degamo said she would run for the position if it would also bring justice to her husband.
