16 towns under election watch list finally named
THE number of towns in Pangasinan placed under the election watch list is now down to 16 from the previous 20 last month, the Provincial Elections Office (PEO) reported.
In the list are Bayambang, San Carlos City, Urbiztondo, Malasiqui, Bugallon, Infanta, Manaoag, Rosales, Urdaneta, Basista, Agno, Calasiao, Lingayen, Binmaley, Sison, Alaminos City and Mangatarem.
Provincial Elections Supervisor Joel Gines said the listed towns were placed on the watch list owing to the intense political rivalries among the candidates as well as their history of political violence that happened in past elections.
Removed from the list were Dagupan City and Sual where the incumbent mayors have no opponents.
Gines said the list of areas under the election watch list may still be trimmed further because the province has not recorded serious election-related incidents.
So far, only cases of mauling on April 2 in Sison involving a follower of Fifth District Rep. Kimi Cojuangco by a town councilor and the mauling of a municipal employee by Mayor Raul Martin Sison of Urbiztondo allegedly supporting the mayor’s opponent.
Gines confirmed the report of the Police Provincial Office that Pangasinan is generally peaceful and expressed confidence that it will be maintained till election day and beyond.
On the expected heated political battle between the Espino and Cojuangco families, Gines said he is still optimistic that the campaign period will remain peaceful because both families have displayed restraint and have not resorted to name-calling.
The only complaints Gines said he received through text messages were the alleged destruction of each other’s campaign posters and alleged vote-buying which he immediately ordered investigated by his election officers but none was validated so far.
Ginez earlier said it is not easy to prosecute vote-buying unless there is a quantum of evidence attesting to the offense and that the buyer and the seller of votes are both willing to execute their affidavits concerning the same. (Leonardo Micua)
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