The peace and order situation in Negros Oriental is “good,” as there are no reports of intimidation or violence ahead of the May 2025 elections, the Commission on Elections in Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) said.

Comelec-NIR Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano said security personnel will augment forces during the 2025 polls in Negros Oriental, since the province is a national concern.

Negros Oriental has a history of intense political rivalries.

Castillano added the regional poll body has yet to convene the NIR Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center for the activation of the NIR Police Regional Office, which may take place in December.

The election period is set from January 12 to June 11, 2025.

During the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in October 2023, Negros Oriental was placed under Comelec control, with large contingents of police and military deployed in the province to avert violence.

No single election-related violent incident was reported in the province during the village polls.

The Comelec en banc recommended placing Negros Oriental under Comelec control for the BSKE following the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo on March 4, 2023.

Degamo and nine others were killed while more than a dozen were injured after a group of armed men barged inside his residential compound in Pamplona town.

Earlier, Castillano said the province’s history of political tensions may warrant increased security measures.

The Comelec-NIR will use a color-coding scheme to classify areas based on their security situation for the upcoming elections, such as green, which indicates no political issues; yellow signifies areas with a history of political rivalry; orange denotes the presence of armed groups; and red indicates critical areas.

Efforts are ongoing to clarify watch list areas as the elections approach, Castillano added./ With reports from PNA / WDJ