PNP-SPONSORED COVENANT SIGNING

LINGAYEN—The provincial police are confident that the campaign period and the conduct of election on May 9 will remain peaceful after the series of Secure and Fair Election (SAFE) covenant signing coupled with “Unity Run” were finally accomplished in all 44 towns and four cities in the province.

P/Supt. Jackie Candelario, police information officer of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO), said the last covenant signing was held in San Fabian.

Candelario expressed high hopes for a peaceful campaign period and election with the participation of almost all the candidates in SAFE 2016.

“This is a good sign as our candidates signified their cooperation in maintaining a peaceful election”, said Candelario.

An organizational meeting for the peace covenant signing among candidates in the gubernatorial, vice gubernatorial, congressional and board membership was held last Thursday but no date has been set.

Meanwhile, Candelario said three violent incidents have been reported and are being determined whether these were election related incidents since the campaign period for local candidates started last March 25.

The latest was the shooting incident in Bani town on April 13 involving Nestor Tabucol, 47, former president of MASARAPTODA (Macaboboni, San Simon, Ranao, Poblacion TODA) in the town, alleged supporter of incumbent Mayor Gwen Yamamoto.

Based on the initial investigation, Tabucol was reportedly driving his tricycle with a passenger on board in the boundary of barangay Poblacion and Ranao when an unidentified suspect shot the victim five times with a caliber 45 pistol based on the recovered cartridge shells in the crime scene.

Tabucol was rushed to the nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

An election-related incident was the alleged mauling of Bernabe Dela Cruz, 62, municipal employee, by incumbent Mayor Martin Raul Sison II last April 7.

Candelario said Dela Cruz was allegedly summoned by Sison to his residence for a clarification about an issue but he allegedly ended up being beaten and threatened for campaigning for an opposing mayoralty candidate in the town.

However, Sison claimed Dela Cruz allegedly went to his residence to collect a loan of a certain Mario that ended in a fight between the two, and it was the mayor who tried to pacify them,” said Candelario.

He said these incidents and a mauling incident in Sison town involving an incumbent municipal councilor and a supporter of another candidate are still being investigated. (Hilda Austria)

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