Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. said he saw no reasons to defer the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Negros Oriental in October, during his visit to the province over the weekend.
Abalos said the province has been “relatively peaceful” four months after the murder of former Governor Roel Degamo, based on comparative data presented by local police.
“Kanilang kinumpara ang crime rate ngayon at last year. Talagang malayo, talagang napakatahimik ng Negros Oriental, except that one incident… Otherwise, isusuma mo lahat, talagang tahimik,” Abalos said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo Serbisyo.
He added that local officials in the province should focus on economic recovery, with an apparent influx of tourists since the Degamo slay on March 4.
“Nagulat nga ako, dumami ang mga turista eh… Nakita ko ‘yung eroplanong nakasabay ko, madami-dami na rin ‘yung turista eh,” he said.
“Ang importante rito ay bumangon economically ang Negros Oriental,” he added.
Earlier, Abalos said he would continue to closely monitor developments in Negros Oriental, wherein the peace and order situation has been in the spotlight after the Pamplona massacre.
Abalos was in the Negros province to lead a command conference with provincial government officials and local police, urging them to work to maintain peace and order.
“Economic development is always intertwined with peace and order,” he said.
“Marami nang nangyari. Ang importante, we should look forward and take control of the situation. We owe it to our province and the people of Negros,” he added.
He also assured residents that Degamo and nine others killed in the Pamplona massacre would be given justice.
Some of the former governor’s gunmen recanted statements about their involvement in the murder.
“Under the procedure of these agencies of government, lalabas at lalabas ang katotohanan at mamamayani ang hustisya,” the secretary said.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections said it would come up with a decision on the proposal for the deferment of barangay and SK elections in Negros Oriental on August 28, the start of the election period, after public consultations in the province were held from June 27 to 29.
In June, nine local chief executives in the province expressed support for the postponement of the polls, citing primary reasons, such as security concerns, threats, possible violence, and anticipated criminal activities.
“Postponing the elections will allow us to dismantle the culture of fear, instill confidence in the voters, and ensure a truly free and fair electoral environment,” the mayors said in a statement.
They also claimed that “underlying fear” still persisted after the Pamplona massacre./With reports from ABS-CBN News / WDJ