Senator Robin Padilla on Wednesday raised the potential for inserting the province of Negros Oriental beneath navy management amid the collection of alleged political killings and violence within the province.
At the continuation of the Senate investigation into the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, Padilla stated that the 1987 Constitution allowed the President as commander in chief to name out the navy to forestall or suppress lawless violence.
“Sa ating Konstitusyon malinaw sinasabi kapag ang isang lugar ay pinamumugaran na ng ganitong klaseng krimen pinapayagan po ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas na mag-takeover kayo at ayusin ang lugar na yan. Sa palagay ninyo di pa ito napapanahon sa Negros Oriental?” Padilla requested navy officers on the listening to.
(Our Constitution is evident. If an space is infested with crimes, the President is allowed to authorize the navy to take over. Do you assume it’s time for this in Negros Oriental?)
“Nararamdaman ko parang bulkan itong naghihintay sumabog dito sa lugar na ito. Palagay ko sa sarili kong maliit na opinyon, parang kailangan na po talaga na kayo rito ng military,” he added.
(I really feel the state of affairs within the province is sort of a volcano ready to blow up. My opinion is we’d like the navy there.)
In response, AFP Brigadier General Gerry Pulohanan stated violence needs to be rampant earlier than martial legislation may very well be applied in an space.
“I think there’s no lawless violence yet which is quite rampant to warrant, to put the area under military control,” Pulohanan stated.
“I think the proper body to determine whether [it] warrants putting the area under military control is somebody from the intelligence community, we will coordinate with the concerned intel community,” he added.
Padilla additionally requested Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the widow of the slain governor, if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. needs to be requested to put Negros Oriental beneath navy management.
“Tingin ko po maybe a little bit parang one or two steps lower than martial law. I’m not very sure if a state of emergency [will do],” Degamo stated.
(I feel one or two steps decrease than martial legislation. I’m not very positive if a state of emergency will do.)
“If that will hasten ‘yung gaano katagal bago talaga truly one can feel wala na talaga ang intimidation, para sa akin, in my personal point of view, okay lang ako kung ganoon na lang muna,” she added.
(If that will hasten the period of time before one can truly feel there’s no more intimidation, in my personal point of view, it would be okay if that will be the case.)
On the other hand, Senator Francis Tolentino is seeking the Commission on Election’s place on the attainable postponement of the 2023 BSKE in Negros Oriental.
The Senate panel has invited the Comelec within the subsequent listening to.
Mayor Degamo and the relations of political killing victims in Negros Oriental have been attending the Senate panel’s collection of hearings into the assaults and assassinations within the province.
Data offered by the PNP on the Senate listening to confirmed that 43 elected authorities officers in Negros Oriental have been victims of gun attackes since 2016.
The numbers exclude the assaults on appointed authorities officers and civilians who have been harmed or killed on account of their political affiliations.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla already ordered the creation of a particular activity drive which might deal with the 23 instances of political killings in Negros Oriental, together with that of Degamo.
Political angle?
Janice alleged in the course of the listening to that allies of suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. have been concerned within the assassination of former Pamplona Vice Mayor and Councilor Kent “Bongbong” Divinagracia in September 2020.
At the continuation of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs listening to on the Degamo slay case, the widow of the slain Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo stated that Police Colonel Crisaleo Tolentino and his spouse, former Pamplona Councilor Victoria Luz Tolentino, had been linked to Divinagracia’s killing.
They have been additionally allegedly concerned within the abduction of Police Executive Master Sergeant (PEMS) Reuel Piñero.
Police Colonel Tolentino stated that he had “never been an ally or associate of Arnie Teves” and his household was near Degamo.
He additionally denied claims that he supplied weapons for the Teveses.
“The only notable event that made them angry at me is when Sgt. Reuel Piñero, the bodyguard of Governor Degamo, sought my assistance concerning his reassignment to NCRPO and his safety. Sgt. Piñero was considered that time a person of interest in the murder of radio commentator Rex Cornelo Pepino, who was known to be critical of the Degamos,” Tolentino stated.
Governor Degamo was speaking to beneficiaries of the federal government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) program at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental on March 4, when armed males barged in and fired photographs. The assault additionally left eight different individuals lifeless. —NB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
