UNSHAKEN by the furious reaction of local government officials, the police and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) remain pat on their position that it’s alright for Pangasinan to be included in the list of “areas of concern” for the May 2013 polls.

Police Supt. Mateo Casupang, deputy provincial director for operations, echoed other provincial and police officials’ earlier pronouncements that being in the list means “the province can easily get personnel and operational supports from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military”.

“At least we can attain our objective of having a fair and secure election,” Casupang said during the KBP forum last Thursday.

Casupang also pointed out that being in the list “does not necessarily mean that an area is a hot spot or a high risk area”.

Jennifer Balarbar of Comelec-Pangasinan said her office supports the police position because it is the police who are in a position to assess peace and order situations.

“The PNP can help us dislodge private armed groups and maintain peace and order,” Balarbar said even as she admitted that the political atmosphere in Pangasinan remains peaceful. (PIA-Pangasinan/ARF)

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