More policemen sent to watch Pangasinan
POLICE Regional Director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil has ordered the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) headed by Senior Superintendent Dionisio Borromeo to augment the force in Pangasinan for the May 14 election.
This will boost the number of police officers already in place in Pangasinan, most of who were deployed in San Carlos City, the only place in the province so far placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
San Carlos was placed under Comelec control soon after the slaying of Mayor Julian Resuello last April 28 which is suspected to be politically-motivated.
Bataoil said the other places being watched include San Manuel where two men supposedly belonging to an armed group being used by local politicians were arrested on Friday.
Bataoil did not name thes politicians involved although he mentioned a previous incident where the car of one candidate’s supporter was strafed by unidentified persons.
San Manuel is listed as an area of concern identified by both the police and the Comelec.
But Bataoil said he has yet to see recommendation that the town be elevated to the status of area of immediate concern.
Besides San Manuel, towns under close watch by the police are Sual, Binmaley, Tayug, Sta. Maria, Natividad, San Nicolas, Tayug, Umingan and Balungao.
These were mainly due to past incidents of violence and intense political rivalries among local candidates in these areas.
Bataoil said the police will be on full alert 24 hours on May 14.
He said the police checkpoints since last week have already been on 24-hour operations in order to intercept any vehicle transporting firearms or goons out to disrupt the election or to intimidate voters.
“I would like to see all my officers on their toes. We really mean business and don’t want to leave anything to chance,” Bataoil said at a news conference at the Dagupan City Police Station.
He said his guidance to his officers and men in Pangasinan as well as in the other parts of the region is “to think of what can go wrong and what can go right”.
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