3 cities, 6 towns tagged as ‘hot spots’
LINGAYEN—THREE of the four cities in Pangasinan and six municipalities have been put in the list of priority “areas of concern” by the provincial police for the May 2013 mid-term election.
The areas, identified based on their respective previous history of intense election-related violent incidents, are the cities of Dagupan, Alaminos and San Carlos; and the towns of Agno, Urbiztondo, Malasiqui, Rosales, Sta. Maria and San Manuel.
“This is only the initial list of areas of concern. It may increase or decrease depending on our continued validation,” said Senior Superintendent Mariano Luis Verzosa Jr., OIC police provincial director.
Verzosa stressed that listing these areas “is not a cause for alarm” because “intense political rivalry” does not necessarily translate to killings.
So far, no election-related violence has been reported in the listed areas.
According to Verzosa, the list was already submitted to the regional police command but the situation is being evaluated daily noting the efforts of rival politicians to keep peace.
The final list of Election Watchlist Areas will later be approved by the provincial Joint Security and Peace Coordinating Conference composed of the Commission on Elections, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.—Eva Visperas
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