Proposal to postpone brgy, SK polls in Negros Oriental should be studied carefully —COMELEC

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) says Senator Francis Tolentino's proposal to postpone the Baranagay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in Negros Oriental due to "political violence" should be studied carefully.

“It should be seriously and carefully studied by the Commission. Although admittedly, we have the power to postpone the election in an area, however, there are stringent requirements of the law. Aside therefrom, such a postponement is only up to 30 days,” Comelec chair George Garcia told reporters in a Viber message.

Tolentino floated the idea of postponement during the Senate probe on the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo where political killings in the province was discussed.

“Baka magdulot ng karagdagang karahasan [sa Negros Oriental] kung matutuloy ang barangay elections. Kasi barangay po ‘yan, mas mainit po yan,” Tolentino said.

(If the barangay elections push through, it may cause additional election-related violence.) 

Meanwhile, Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco mentioned the possible amendments to Republic Act 11935 as another option to postpone the polls. 

“We believe that Hon. Tolentino’s recommendation is two-pronged: the first is a call to his colleagues in both Houses of Congress for legislation amending RA11935 in so far as the elections on the subject province being excepted from the nationwide synchronised Barangay and SK Elections,” Laudiangco said in mixed English and Filipino.

“In this case, as stated by [Comelec] Chairman [George] Garcia po, if there will be a law amending RA 11935 (if any) for these purposes, the COMELEC will comply and implement the same,” he said.

Laudiangco also explained that the Comelec, with the help of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, needs to further evaluate and ascertain the safety and security situation prevailing in the area leading to the days of the elections.

Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code allows the Comelec to postpone the election due to any serious cause such as violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, and other analogous causes of such a nature that the holding of a free, orderly and honest election should become impossible in any political subdivision.

However, the election should be held at a date reasonably close to the original date of the election and it should not be later than 30 days after the cessation of the cause for such postponement.

Data presented by the PNP at the Senate hearing showed that 43 elected government officials in Negros Oriental were victims of gun attacks since 2016.

The numbers exclude the attacks on appointed government officials and civilians who were harmed or killed due to their political affiliations.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla already ordered the creation of a special task force which would handle the 23 cases of political killings in Negros Oriental, including that of Degamo. —VAL, GMA Integrated News