CALASIAO–Top officials and members of the Liberal Party in Pangasinan closed ranks last Friday to press their campaign against election-related violence in the province as they blamed the camp of re-electionist Governor Amada Espino Jr. for the grenade attack on the residence of Bugallon Mayor Rodrigo Orduña.

“While we call for peace, we will not be cowed into submission or silence. We will continue to expose and oppose the evil deeds of the incumbent governor and his gang in the provincial capitol,” said Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza, the LP’s gubernatorial candidate.

“We will never back down in our fight for good governance in Pangasinan. We will continue with our peaceful campaign activities, going directly to the people to hear their complaints and address their concerns,” Braganza added.

Braganza made the remarks as he read before the media the statement of solidarity signed by LP officials and members during a caucus at the Pangasinan Regency Hotel here last April 26.

DISTORTED PICTURE

Meanwhile, Gov. Espino has asked the police to conduct a thorough and non-partisan investigation of the case and even as brushed aside insinuations by the LP that he was behind the incident.

“I don’t want anybody to use unverified information to magnify insignificant events and create a distorted picture of the peace and order situation in the province,” said Espino.

The LP called s caucus to address the security concerns of party members following the blast at Orduña house last Wednesday.

Orduña earlier filed plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against Espino for allegedly pocketing more than P900 million from jueteng payola.

POLICE INVESTIGATION

Meanwhile, Sr. Supt. Marlou Chan, Pangasinan Provincial Police Office Director, has confirmed that the blast was caused by a grenade.

According to Explosion and Ordinance Disposal Specialist PSupt. Noel Vallo, the ammunition’s specimen taken from the crime scene indicate that the grenade is a US-issued fragmentation grenade MK2 type, which has a killing radius of 5-10 meters and its impact may reach up to 50 meters.

Vallo suspects that the grenade used was old and thus resulted in a low order detonation, leaving minimal impact as there was no large crater or splinters found in the scene.

An 18-man team from the Regional Public Safety Battalion has been deployed in Bugallon to conduct intelligence-driven checkpoint.

The police have also committed to provide full protection to Orduña and his family.

“We promise our full cooperation with the police in ensuring that this act of violence will not escalate in Bugallon and other parts of Pangasinan,” he said.—with report from Johanne R. Macob

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