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NegOr PAGs nowhere to be found – Comelec

• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

Private armed groups (PAGs) that were monitored in previous elections in Negros Oriental are now nowhere to be found, on Tuesday disclosed Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, newly designated Commission on Elections regional director of the Negros Island Region.

If there is an occurrence of violence, it is crime related, and not related to politics, Castillano said.

Castillano, however, said the security situation of Negros Oriental will be determined “once you know who will be the candidates,” after the filing of Certificates of Candidacy in October this year.

Negros Oriental was placed under Comelec control during the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October last year, following the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo and death of nine others inside the governor’s residential compound in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, on May 4, 2023.

Former Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr., was tagged as the alleged mastermind in the killing of Degamo. He has repeatedly denied the accusations against him.

Castillano said it is too early to tell if there will be election hotspots in Negros Island, especially the Oriental side, until such time the candidates file their certificates of candidacy.

He however said the 2023 BSKE elections in Negros Oriental was peaceful and orderly.

PCol. Ronan Claravall, provincial police director of Negros Oriental, attributed the peaceful atmosphere of the province to the support and cooperation of the public.

So, far Negros Oriental is peaceful, but not during elections,  Castillano quipped, as he noted that it appears there is no closure yet with regard to the political squabble in the province.

He admitted that Negros Oriental remains a concern of the Comelec, which is the main reason why he was instructed by Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia to initially set up their regional office in the province.

Castillano served as Comelec provincial supervisor of Negros Oriental in two previous elections.

On the other hand, Castillano described the peace and order in Negros Occidental as peaceful.*

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