The Commission on Elections is placing Negros Oriental on its watchlist with intense political rivalry expected in the 2025 midterm elections, Negros Island Region Comelec Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano said on Monday, Oct. 7.
“We can say that there will be intense political rivalry provincewide considering that Pryde Henry Teves is running for governor,” he said.
Teves was proclaimed the winner of the 2022 gubernatorial race but his victory was later overturned following a recount that allowed Roel Degamo to assume the post.
Degamo was assassinated on March 4, 2023 and ousted Rep. Arnulfo Teves Jr., the brother of Pryde, was tagged as the alleged mastermind.
Castillano said retired Navy officer Stephen Tuballa has also filed a COC for governor of Negros Oriental.
The Sagarbarria camp is also expected to field a governor.
He said in the last barangay elections the whole province of Negros Oriental was placed under Comelec control, which means based on Comelec guidelines it will remain on its watchlist.
This is for security preparations to be out in place, he said.
Castillano is appealing to the governors of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor to push for an NIR Regional Joint Security Control Center for the 2025 polls.
He is hoping an NIR police regional director is appointed soon so a JSCC can be activated by December or early January.
He said so far Negros Occidental has no election hotspot .
The election gunban will be from January 12 to June 11 , Castillano said.
Meanwhile, Castillano reiterated the call for candidates to have their Certificates of Candidacy checked at the Comelec before filing to avoid hitches.
This will hasten the actual filing process, he said.
He said so far there have been no security problems during the COC filing in the NIR.
The Comelec has asked the Department of Energy not to conduct preventive maintenance work during office hours so there will be power while they encode COCs being filed by candidates, Castillano said.*