AFP to help secure Negros Oriental BSKE

MANILA, Philippines — The military is ready to assist the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure peaceful barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in Negros Oriental on Oct. 30.

Soldiers are on standby and will be deployed if the need arises, according to Visayas Command chief Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo.

“We have a contingency for this situation. We have been planning and making the necessary coordination since March. We are prepared and have enough personnel to support the Comelec and PNP,” Arevalo said yesterday.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia announced on Monday that the BSKE would proceed as scheduled in Negros Oriental. This was despite a petition for postponement over security-related concerns following the murder of governor Roel Degamo.

Garcia said the province would be placed under Comelec control.

“We will coordinate with the PNP to ensure that our contingency is synchronized with its deployment and security plans. Coordination will be made with the Comelec as to the guidelines on how it will go about placing the entire province under its control,” Arevalo said.

He said security efforts in Negros Oriental have been relentless since Degamo was killed.

”Checkpoints and mobility patrols in the urban areas as well as security patrols in rural areas are being conducted even to this date. The government remains in control of the province’s peace and order situation, which has become stable following the arrest of the primary suspects in the incident,” Arevalo said.

The PNP, for its part, said it would beef up its forces in Negros Oriental.

At a press briefing, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the police would ”realign” its forces to secure the province.

Acorda directed police commanders to determine if their areas of jurisdisction are peaceful or with security concerns.

Kagawad bet shot

Meanwhile, a barangay captain running for kagawad in the BSKE was wounded in a gun attack in Barangay San Francisco in Cauayan, Isabela on Monday.

Joseph Benigno, 53, barangay captain of Daburab, and Elpidio Camungao Jr., 47, remain in critical condition in a hospital.

Their companion, Marlon Quijano, 41, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, died.

The three were on two motorcycles on their way home after selling their harvest of palay in Barangay Rizaluna in Alicia town when unidentified men on another motorbike overtook their vehicle and then shot them several times.

Fully automated polls not possible

On the holding of fully automated BSKE in 2025, the Comelec said it is not possible due to time and financial constraints.

”We would like to, as much as possible, but since it is set in 2025, that’s just five months of preparation for the Comelec, coming from the May elections,” Garcia said, referring to the midterm national and local elections.

This year’s BSKE will be automated only in three areas – two barangays in Dasmariñas, Cavite and one in Quezon City. — Artemio Dumlao, Emmanuel Tupas, Mayen Jaymalin