Negros Oriental curfew set ahead of barangay, SK polls

 

MANILA, Philippines — In an effort to prevent violence and deter vote buying, the Regional Joint Security Control Center in Negros Oriental (RJSCC VII) will implement a province-wide curfew two days prior the October 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

In a resolution released Wednesday,  the RJSCCI — consisting of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard — said that the  curfew would take effect from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. on October 28, Saturday and October 29, Sunday.

The RJSCC said the curfew is “for purposes of preventing vote-buying, threats, intimidation, and violence against the voters, candidates, and election workers.”

“No person shall be allowed to stay outside her or his respective home, dormitory, condominium building, or other similar building used as dwelling between the hours of 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. the following day,” the resolution read.

Those who work during the said curfew hours are exempted from the restriction, including but not limited to, call-center or business process outsourcing employees, health workers, and those engaged in the business of transporting goods or services, and those with medical emergencies.

“Provided that proof of employment or other similar supporting documents are presented to the authorized law enforcement,” the resolution stated.

Violators of the curfew, under the resolution, will be detained for the duration of the curfew hours and will only be released at 5:00 a.m.

Negros Oriental was placed under Comelec control on September 18.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 10757, the poll body’s control can be raised in an area due to the following:

• History of/or current intense rivalry among contending parties. Such rivalries could motivate people to engage in violent acts
• Incidents of politically-motivated violence involving aspirants/candidates and other supporters
• Violence may be facilitated by the employment of Private Armed Groups
• Serious armed threats posed by the Communist Terrorist Groups and other threat groups.

Negros Oriental has been a subject of several cases of political violence, including the assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo in March.

AComelec is also set to hold a special elections on December 9 to replace expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. — the alleged mastermind behind Degamo’s murder — on December 9.