Decision on whether to push through with the Barangay and Sanggunniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in Negros Oriental will be out in the second or third week of September, the poll body’s chief told senators.

This, after the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs proposed in a hearing the rescheduling of the elections in the province, noting the peace and order issue following the death of its late Governor Roel Degamo.

Citing reports, he said results of the surveys conducted by some newspapers in Region 7 show that some people favor the 30-day postponement of the elections set this October.

Comelec chairperson, George Garcia expressed his support to the proposal of the panel, admitting that the poll body has the prerogative to defer BSKE in Negros Oriental for up to three months.

“Because we are very supportive of this initiative, we will already conducting the hearing. ‘Yun pong nabanggit ng ating kagalang-galang na survey, malaking tulong po ‘yun pero base po sa rules na umiiral sa atin under Rule 26 ng Comelec Rules of Procedure kinakailangan po merong due process, may pagdinig sa lahat ng parties,” he explained.

The Comelec chief said they will be conducting hearings in all villages and towns of Negros Oriental starting August 28 before coming up with a decision.

He noted that under the law, Comelec can defer polls in a particular area in the country under the grounds of “serious causes” like violence, terrorism, insurrection, rebellion, lack of election facilities, or calamities.