MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said it aims to conduct the special elections in Negros Oriental by the second week of December.

The polls are intended to fill the vacant seat of former Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., following calls of the House of Representatives (HoR) to conduct special elections.

“Kaya naman ng Commission on Elections ‘yan basta matapos lang namin itong Barangay and SK Elections [sa] October 30 (The Comelec can do that as long as we finish the BSKE in Oct. 30),” Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in an interview.

“Siguro bago matapos ang buwan ng September ay makapag-imprenta na kami ng mga balota para sa distrito ng Negros Oriental (Maybe before September ends, we can print ballots for the districts of Negros Oriental),” he said.

Garcia said the poll body will determine the amount needed for the conduct of special elections.

Meanwhile, Garcia said Negros Oriental is one of the areas monitored by the law enforcement agencies in line with the BSKE.

“In the meantime, minamatyagan naming mabuti ang Negros Oriental sapagkat nabanggit ng Chief PNP natin na dalawang lugar talaga ang tinitingnan nila sa bansa. Number 1, ang Negros Oriental at number 2 ang Bangsamoro (we are carefully monitoring Negros Oriental because chief Philippine National Police [Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr.] mentioned two areas they are looking in the country. Number 1, Negros Oriental, and number 2 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao),” he said.

He said around 27 areas in the country are under category red according to the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard.

These areas remain undisclosed while undergoing the finalization of assessment, he added. (PNA)