Bacolod City – Unlike Negros Oriental, there will be no curfew in Negros Occidental during the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 30, Provincial Commission on Elections supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria disclosed recently.
A province wide curfew is set to be imposed by the Central Visayas Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center in Negros Oriental, starting from 10 p.m. on Saturday to 4 a.m. on Sunday, and again from 10 p.m. on Sunday to 4 a.m. on Monday, election day.
Negros Oriental has been placed under Comelec control due to occurrence of a spate of violent incidents in the past several months, notably the assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo.
While there is no curfew in Negros Occidental, Ananoria said they will impose a liquor ban on Oct. 29.
Negros Occidental has 51 barangays categorized as election areas of concern, of which three have been placed under areas of grave concern.
Ananoria said the three villages under “red category” have not been placed under COMELEC control, although the military and police have tightened their monitoring in those areas to discourage those who are planning to disrupt the polls, and to keep the peace between rival political parties.
More than 5,000 policemen and soldiers have been tasked ensure peaceful and orderly elections in Negros Occidental. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)
