AFP augmentation forces arrive
FOR MAY 9 POLLS
AUGMENTATION forces from the Philippine Army are now in Pangasinan and have began participating in the conduct of checkpoints along the highways to check the movement of lawless elements and firearms, the Provincial Election Office (PEO) reported.
Atty. Joel Gines, officer-in charge as provincial election supervisor, said the soldiers currently based in Manaoag and Binmaley, will boost the security measures adopted in the province.
Meanwhile, Gines said he will order another round of “Operation Baklas” because illegal campaign materials posted outside common poster areas continue to proliferate.
He complained that the illegal oversized posters continue to surface in prohibited areas and Comelec will continue to deputize the police and the army for the next round of “Operation Baklas.”
Meanwhile, he said while there are presently 20 towns and cities in Pangasinan tagged by the police as Election Watchlist Areas (EWAs) and there is probability that the number will be reduced, citing the case of Dagupan City as an example where the incumbent mayor and vice mayor from the opposing parties are now unopposed, reducing the possibility of tension in the area.
“Although Pangasinan is a watchlist area, there has been no serious incident that has so far cropped up, which is good,” said Gines in his first press conference since assuming his post as officer-in-charge at the Provincial Election Office.
Pangasinan has 1,333 barangays in 48 towns and cities and in this election, there are some 1,500 clustered precincts to be manned by 9,100 members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), at three BEIs per clustered precinct. (Leonardo Micua)
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