Politics heats up in 6th District
SOLDIERS’ DEPLOYMENT HIT
ROSALES–Political tension is building up in the 6th District.
Army soldiers have reportedly been deployed in at least eight villages of the district, ostensibly on a mission to go after Private Armed Groups (PAGs) or private armies.
But Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr., who represents the district, said the situation is “absolutely uncalled for” and suspects that it is a politically-motivated scheme initiated by retired General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., former Armed Forces Chief of Staff who also served as Secretary of the Presidential Management Staff, and is now running as congressional representative for the 6th District.
“I hope it is not coincidental that the Army men were deployed in areas that appear at this stage to be the bailiwick of the opponent of the former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Bince said.
Esperon, a candidate of the ruling Lakas-Kampi CMD party, is running against Vice Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, a candidate under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and a party of Bince.
Bince is seeking re-election to the provincial board.
COMELEC APPROVED
The army deployment has been sanctioned by the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) under lawyer Reddy Balarbar.
The army contingent was seen in at least eight barangays — four in San Manuel, two in Asingan and two in Umingan
Balarbar said the deployment of army personnel in the district is justified as there are suspected PAGs in at least four towns in the district, namely: Balungao, Umingan, San Manuel, and San Nicolas.
Bince asserted that Mayors Jose Peralta Jr. of Balungao, Eldred Tumbucon of Umingan, Salvador Perez of San Manuel and Leoncio Saldivar III of San Nicolas have no known PAGS.
“As far as I know, wala silang PAGs. They may have bodyguards but these were provided by the police,” he said.
San Manuel, San Nicolas, Umingan, Tayug, San Quintin and Rosales are among the 16 towns in Pangasinan included in the watchlist of the PNP this election.
The others in the watchlist are Binalonan, Malasiqui, Basista, San Carlos, Dagupan, Sual. Bolinao, Agno, Infanta and Alaminos.
Balarbar also cited the recent killing of the Assistant Election Officer of Sta. Maria as one of his reasons in calling for the army to secure the district.
Bince, who is representing the accused killer in that case, also brushed the claim aside saying the motivation for that murder is not election-related.
“Fortunately in the ambush of the Assistant Election Officer of Sta. Maria, I am appearing as counsel for the accused, who is an alleged bodyguard of the candidate for mayor of Sta. Maria,” Bince said.
Bince did not identify the accused but he did reveal that his client is allegedly working for Councilor Teddy Ramos who is running against the wife of three-term Mayor Jose Ginez.
Bince also pointed out that there is no reason for the army deployment since the district is not rebel-infested area.
“The army is usually assigned in insurgency and rebel-infested areas…but there are no NPAs in my district nor was there a problem of insurgency,” he said.
Bince also said there is no reason to have soldiers in the district as the police can very well protect and safeguard the peace and order situation for the election in the area.—LM
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