The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Negros Island Region (NIR) is seeking the creation of a Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office to bolster security measures for the May 2025 polls.
At present, the police setup may not be enough for the elections’ security requirements, lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano told the Philippine News Agency Oct. 2.
The PNP in the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor are currently under the operational control of the Police Regional Office based in Cebu City (PRO7).
On the other hand, the Negros Occidental PNP is still reporting to the PRO6 in Iloilo.
As such, the Comelec cannot yet convene the NIR Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center, Castillano said.
This means that Castillano will be attending both RJSCCs in regions 6 and 7.
“Following the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the NIR, we hope that the PNP hierarchy would act immediately on the creation of a police regional office before the election period begins in January,” he said.
Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria signed the IRR with Department of the Interior and Local Government regional director Dennis Villaseñor at the Capitol in Dumaguete City Oct. 1.
The Comelec-NIR also hinted that Negros Oriental may be placed under Comelec control considering the intense political rivalry in past elections. ||
