LINGAYEN–Pangasinan may have been cited for being the most peaceful province in Region 1 during the last election, but re-elected Governor Amado Espino Jr. is first to admit that the political exercise was “too much divisive”.

Speaking during the recognition of Deserving Philippine National Police (PNP) Personnel and Election Stakeholders at the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) office on June 8, Espino noted that emotions still run high after the election.

As such, the governor, a retired police general who once served as head of the provincial PNP, called on the police to become “instruments of healing”.

“Be the foremost leader in your community for healing,” he said.

“There is life after the election,” Espino added, urging the people to now face the more demanding tasks ahead.

At the event, Chief Superintendent Constante Azares Jr., police regional director; and Senior Supt. Percival Barba, police provincial director, pinned the Medalya ng Kasanayan to six police officers and the Medalya ng Papuri to six non-commissioned officers.

Certificates of recognition were also presented to Provincial Elections Officer Reddy Balarbar and Rev. Fr. Allen Romero who headed the provincial Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Pastors Manuel Pineda and Darius Lado and Romy Najera and Primitivo Torio, both of the Barangay Peace-keeping Action Teams (BPATS) in Lingayen.

No election-related violence was reported in the province and only three election protests were filed, one each in Sison, Pozorrubio and Alaminos.

However, there is one apparent post-election murder with the slaying on June 5 of Barangay Chairman Joel Ugaban, 46, of Bongalon, Labrador, who was a campaign manager of one candidate in that town. The case is now being investigated by the police.—LM

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