LINGAYEN–The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have identified six towns and one city in Pangasinan as “areas of concern” in the coming national and local election.

The list was drawn up during a coordinating conference held Friday at the Police Provincial Office presided over by Police Provincial Director Alan Purisima and Provincial Elections Officer Reddy Balarbar.

The places named are San Nicolas, Natividad, Tayug, San Carlos City, Bugallon, Binmaley and San Manuel.

However, in Comelec’s own list, the town of San Fabian was included due to the expected heated political battle ahead among local candidates.

Purisima also pointed out that the phrase “areas of concern” is the right way to describe the places prior to the holding of an election, instead of referring to them as “hot spots”.

San Nicolas, he said, is an area of concern because just after the 2004 election, when the municipal board of canvassers had just proclaimed the winners, the former mayor and head of the Association of Barangay Captains, Conrado Rodrigo, was shot and killed at the back of the municipal hall.

Balarbar, in an earlier statement to The PUNCH, stated that San Nicolas may be recommended to be placed under Comelec control.

Similarly, the slaying of Mayor Guerrero Zaragoza before the 2004 election caused the inclusion of Tayug in the list of areas of concern.

Natividad is also on the list because the municipal election officer of the town was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen just before the election.

NO POLICE RESHUFFLING

During the conference, Balarbar said that the reshuffling of chiefs of police during the election period, which officially started January 14, is already prohibited unless cleared with the Comelec.

At the same time, Purisima said the police will establish more checkpoints and intensify the campaign against vehicles, particularly motorcycles, without plate numbers.

He also said that implementation of “Operation Bakal” and the gun ban will be intensified as especially in bars and nightclubs.

Purisima said they will organize precincts in clusters and mobilize police patrols to secure them.—LM

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments