Ilocos Norte, not Pangasinan, is ‘hotspot’
REGIONAL COMELEC’S VIEW
CALASIAO–As far as the Commission on Elections is concerned, it is Ilocos Norte and not Pangasinan that will likely top its list of “Areas of Concern”.
This is in sharp contrast to the determination of the Philippine National Police’s regional office that listed Pangasinan on top of the ‘election-watch area’ in Region 1 for the May 9 polls.
“In my view, it is Ilocos Norte. It is because there are towns there where there is intense political fight for the position of mayor,” said Comelec Regional Director Noli Pipo when asked by newsmen what province in the region he thinks will give them a lot of headaches in the coming election.
He said there are five towns in Ilocos Norte that the Comelec is closely monitoring because of the noted worsening political rivalry among candidates for mayor.
He said he does not see the same thing in Pangasinan because although the fight for governor is between two known political families, both candidates will not resort to violence unlike the situations obtaining in some towns in Ilocos Norte.
Pipo, however, did not reveal the five towns in Ilocos Norte.
Curiously, Ilocos Norte was not included in the list of ‘hotspots’ in the country, the list of which was reportedly topped by Pangasinan.
Comelec, Pipo, said will draw up the list of areas of concern in the region independent of the list earlier prepared by the PNP. (Leonardo Micua)
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