3 AREAS IN COMELEC WATCHLIST

With less  than a month to go before the May 14 election, none of the 44 towns and four cities in the province has so far been put under Commission on Election (Comelec) control due to reported or expected election-related violence.

In 2004, San Carlos City and the towns of Natividad, Rosales, San Manuel, San Nicolas, Tayug and Sual were considered as “areas of concern” and placed under Comelec control by virtue of Resolution Number 6802.

But Reddy Balarbar, election provincial supervisor, told The PUNCH that based on the report of Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, provincial police director, one city and two towns remain in the Comelec’s watchlist, namely: San Carlos City, Natividad and Tayug.

Balarbar said their declaration as areas of “immediate concern” remains pending.

In the 2004 presidential and local election, the election officer of Natividad was gunned down. In the coming poll, re-electionist Mayor Alejandrea Supnet  (Na tionalist People’s Coalition) is running against Rodrigo Rafael (Liberal Party/Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas).

In San Carlos City, the mayoralty is expected to be hotly contested between Vice Mayor Julier Resuello, son of graduating Mayor Julian Resuello (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats/Biskeg na Pangasinan) and former Mayor Douglas Soriano (PDSP), who was previ ously undefeated for three consecutive terms.

In Tayug, re-electionist Mayor Carlos Trece Mapili (NPC) is running against Ruben Tiu (Liberal Party).

Meanwhile, the police have also recommended as areas of concern the towns of Binmaley, Bugallon, San Nicolas and San Manuel.

Re-electionist Mayor Simplicio Rosario (Lakas/Biskeg) of Binmaley is running against former Mayor Rolando Domalanta (NPC). Accusations of vote-buying pervades in their town.

In Bugallon, re-electionist Mayor Rodrigo Orduña (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino) is fighting it out against Rhodessa Mendoza (Lakas/ Biskeg), who is  the daughter of Police Chief Superintendent Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza.

Mendoza’s camp is crying foul over alleged harassment by unknown men riding motorbikes allegedly tailing their campaign sorties.

Meanwhile, it will be a four-cornered fight in San Nicolas involving re- electionist Mayor Leoncio Saldivar III (NPC), Conrado Rodrigo III (PDP-Laban), son of slain Mayor Conrado Rodrigo, Vice Mayor Luis Ditol (Biskeg/PDSP) and Emmanuel Ancheta (LDP).—EVA

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