• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Oriental is likely to be categorized as an election area of concern by the Commission on Elections for the May 12 elections.
Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec regional director for Negros Island Region, disclosed on Friday that Negros Oriental will not be included in the green category, or areas with no security concerns, because of election-related incidents and intense political rivalries in the past years.
Negros Oriental, according to Castillano, may be likely to be placed under the “yellow or orange” category.
An area is placed under yellow category if it has a history of election-related incidents; orange, if it has serious armed threats, and red, if it has serious armed threats and requires potential Comelec control, according to the Philippine National Police.
Negros Oriental was placed under Comelec control during the October 2024 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, following the assassination of former Governor Roel Degamo at his residential compound in Pamplona town.
The attack, which was considered politically motivated, claimed the lives of nine others, and injured 17 persons, on March 4, 2023.
The Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center for Negros Island Region is set for activation January 11, a day before the start of the election period on Sunday.
Castillano said the recommendations of RJSCC on specific poll hotspots will be forwarded to the Comelec committee on gun ban and security concerns for final approval.
Based on the results of the recent Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Center (PJSCC) meeting in Dumaguete City, Castillano said the police reported that it has not monitored any existence of private armed groups in Negros Occidental.
He, however, instructed the PJSSCC to identify areas in the province, which may have intense political rivalries.
Castillano also said that Negros Occidental, based on the initial recommendation of its Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Center, remains under the green category.
He also reminded politicians that bodyguards are only allowed for congressmen and governors. From mayors down, they have to secure exemptions from the Comelec, Castillano said.*
