DUMAGUETE, Philippines – Filipinos are set to head to the polls on October 30 to elect their new set of village officials, but will the people of Negros Oriental join the rest of the country?

That question remains up in the air, but authorities kicked off on Tuesday, June 27, a three-day public hearing to get the pulse of Negrenses on the hot-button issue.

The consultation is the result of the uptick in violence in the province following the assassination of governor Roel Degamo in March, a death that continues to reverberate throughout Negros Oriental.

The public consultations are being conducted in various localities, attended by local government officials, police and military officials, election watchdogs, and other election stakeholders.

Numerous national government officials flew to Dumaguete City on the first day of the public hearing to observe the process, including Comelec Chairman George Garcia; poll commissioners Ernesto Maceda Jr., Rey Bulay, Nelson Celis, and Aimee Ferolino; Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Andres Centino; and Philippine National Police chief Benjamin Acorda.

“The Comelec en banc went here not to tell you that the BSKE will be postponed or pushed through. This is a symbolic moment to prove to the people of Negros that there should always be a whole-of-government approach when you conduct elections,” Garcia said in a coordinating conference on Tuesday.

“We will listen to everybody,” he added.

Ahead of the hearing, the Comelec in Central Visayas advised the public to submit their position in writing since not everyone would be given the opportunity to speak at the event due to time constraints.

For or against?

Residents are divided on the proposal, with both parties passionate about their stand.

The Diocesan Electoral Board – composed of local chapters of election watchdogs Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) – is in favor of a postponement.

“The postponement/delay of the barangay elections will enable the government to focus its watchful attention to the barangays, where these violence and unsolved killings were committed,” it said in a position paper read during Tuesday’s coordinating conference.

On Sunday, June 25, nine mayors including Degamo’s widow came out with a joint statement calling for a delay of the elections.

Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo and her fellow local chief executives said delaying the polls would be “crucial to address the peace and order concerns” in the province.

“The alleged mastermind’s political machinery remains intact, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in our communities,” the statement read.

It is unclear whether the local chief executives were specifically referring to the people behind the killing of Degamo, but suspects in the assassination previously named Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnie Teves as the alleged brains of the operation.

But during the public hearing in Dumaguete on Tuesday, most local officials who were present rejected calls for postponement.

“It is unfair if we base the situation of our province on hearsay. We need to have empirical data like this. No other than our police force is giving us full data of what is happening in the peace and order situation in our province,” said provincial administrator Arthur Fran Tolcidas, who was speaking on behalf of Governor Chaco Sagarbarria.

Tolcidas cited provincial police data which noted that the number of crime incidents in the province 100 days after Degamo’s killing was lower than the number of crime incidents 100 days prior to the murder.

Sangguniang Kabataan federation president in Dumaguete City Renz Macion also said another delay in the polls would deprive aspiring youth leaders of their chance to serve the council due to age limitations.

“We believe that it is unfair to further delay the electoral process and deny these aspiring leaders to participate and shape their respective barangays,” Macion said.

The AFP and PNP appear in favor of pushing through with the October 30 elections, asserting they are ready to provide additional forces in the province to beef up security.

No immediate decision

Voters of Negros Oriental, however, might have to wait three months before they find out if they would be able to cast their ballots on October 30.

The Comelec chairman said a decision on the proposed postponement may be announced by end of September.

“The Comelec won’t immediately make a decision after the public hearing concludes. There are other processes that we will undergo like at the national level, like consulting our citizens’ arm and other stakeholders,” Garcia said in an interview with DZBB on Sunday.

The Omnibus Election Code allows the postponement of elections on the ground of violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, or other analogous causes of such nature makes impossible the holding of a free, orderly and honest election.

Village polls in the Philippines have been postponed four times since 2016, and the barangay-level vote was held in 2018.

The next election was supposed to be held in 2020, but pandemic disruptions resulted in its postponement to 2022. The same reason was cited for moving the polls to its current October 2023 schedule. – Rappler.com