PNP vows “safest election ever” here
“I WILL make this election the safest election ever in Pangasinan.”
This was the pledge of Sr. Supt. Jonathan Miano, Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG) Commander, during an interview on April 25 before attending the third Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) meeting for overall election security preparations.
Miano, assigned to Pangasinan to oversee election-related concerns, said there is a wrong impression being given that there would be hostilities in the province and blamed “some politicians” for deliberately creating that notion.
“Some politicians are trying to create an impression (of unsafe and disorderly elections), so to remove that doubt pinagbigyan namin sila,” said Miano referring to the augmentation force sent out to some towns.
“We can only prioritize some areas because we cannot provide security in all parts of the province,” he added, stressing that the force remains non-partisan.
Police Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Marlou Chan said the RSOTG works with the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office (PPPO) in conducting “focused” police operations, particularly in the arrest of wanted persons and the campaign against loose firearms and guns-for-hire to ensure a secure and fair (SAFE) elections 2013.
“Our objective is to remove any instrument of violence,” Miano said.
AUGMENTATION
In addition to the police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through the Task Group Amianan, is also providing augmentation force to the province. Recently, the Task Group deployed 34 personnel in San Carlos City, and the towns of San Manuel, and Mangatarem, according to Task Group Amianan Commander Col. Nick Alarcio.
Army personnel and two tanks were also deployed in Dagupan City and Bolinao.
Alarcio explained that the areas that they prioritize are based on intense political rivalry.
Task Group Amianan, co-chairman of the PJSCC, will provide additional forces in the coming days to other areas before the May 13 election day.–Johanne R. Macob
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