Listing as EWAS or “hot spot” no cause for worry, say
AREAS identified by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as “hot spots” or listed under election watch list areas (EWAS) for the 2016 polls should not be interpreted to mean that a chaotic situation already exists.
This was pointed out by Provincial Election Supervisor Marino Salas of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after PNP listed Pangasinan as one of six possible hot spots for the duration of the 2016 campaign period. The others are the provinces of Masbate, Negros Oriental, Western Samar, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.
While Salas lauded the move of the PNP in declaring what it thought as hot spots under its own election watch list, he said PNP uses different parameters for identifying ‘hot spots’ including consideration of past election-related incidents in evaluating situations.
He also pointed out that only Comelec has the sole authority to declare an area as “area of concern” or area of immediate concern and to place an area under Comelec control.
Salas said he understood that the listing of the six provinces was a preemptive measure for the purpose of alerting a community and preparing contingencies, and should not be interpreted to mean that once a ‘hot spot’ or listed under EWAS, it means there is a complete breakdown of peace and order.
Asked if the intense political rivalry in Pangasinan between the Espinos and Cojuangcos for political supremacy in Pangasinan could be among the reasons why the province was placed under EWAS, Salas hinted it might but it is not the first time intense political rivalry is seen in the province.
He cited the 2013 elections when Pangasinan was declared under EWAS but no untoward incident happened.
“There’s nothing to worry about. These are only preemptive moves to secure the elections because of the size of Pangasinan with 1.7 -million voters for 2016 and its effect in national polls,” he added.
“Better prepared than be surprised,” he said.
The same was echoed by P/Sr. Supt. Rollie Saltat, officer-in-charge at the Pangasinan Police Office.
He said the placing of Pangasinan under EWAS will simply enable PNP and Armed Forces to mobilize their resources before, during and after the polls.
While admitting that there are a number of shooting incidents noted in the province lately, all the incidents are not election-related.
Saltat said the brutal slaying of San Carlos City councilor Mienrado Ynson by still unidentified suspects is not political. Ynson is running for reelection under the Resuellos of San Carlos City. (Tita Roces/Leonardo Micua)
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