Police are probing the death of an event host in Negros Oriental’s Bayawan City at sundown on Wednesday, June 28, just shortly after the second day of the public hearings on the deferment of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in the province ended.

An initial police report said the victim, Junar Barios, was shot to death by motorcycle-riding suspects in the city’s Barangay Malabugas.

Negros Oriental acting police provincial director Colonel Alex Recinto told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that they are investigating all possible angles in the killing of Barios.

This early, Recinto said there are no indications that the shooting-to-death of the event host/vlogger was political, as suggested by some quarters.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the conduct of the public hearings for the proposed deferment of the BSKE in Negros Oriental proceeded without any significant hitches.

Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, acting regional election supervisor of the Comelec in Central Visayas, told the PNA that except for time delays at the start of the hearings, no other untoward incidents were reported to him at the end of that day.

“I am happy to note that there is no prevailing fear among stakeholders who openly expressed their sentiments, whether in favor or against the postponement,” Castillano said.

The public hearing ended on Thursday, June 29, with consolidated reports to be submitted to the Comelec en banc afterward to guide them in their decision, he added.In some areas, mayors, vice mayors and councilors were present to air their side, as well as other sectors who submitted their respective position papers.

Castillano said he was satisfied with the turnout of the people attending the public hearings, which he described as a sign of their interest in the BSKE.

He and Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino visited Bacong town and saw that local government officials were present at the public hearing.

In Valencia town, many people attended the public hearing although he missed seeing the mayor, Castillano said.

The Comelec official reiterated his call to Negros Oriental constituents and other stakeholders to attend the last public hearing so they will have their chance to present their sides and sentiments on whether the BSKE should be postponed to another date. (PNA)