MAY 2016 POLLS

LINGAYEN—Twenty out of 48 towns and cities in Pangasinan are among the election-watch areas (EWAs) or ‘hotspots’ for the May 9 elections.

This was pointed out by P/Sr. Superintendent Edgar Allan Okubo, officer-in-charge at the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office as police director, to members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during the Question Hour of their regular session last Monday even as he assured the board of a peaceful and orderly election in the province.

He, however, did not identify the 20 towns and cities.

Okubo was invited to present his plans and programs to ensure a peaceful and orderly election in the province and at the same time to explain why and which towns were declared as ‘hotspots.’

He said he will provide the SP the list ‘hotspots’ in an executive session and will subsequently release the list to the local media. However, when asked last Friday about the list, he told The PUNCH that he was still not ready to release the information.

Okubo earlier disclosed that Pangasinan is among the provinces nationwide placed under EWAs by the Philippine National Police (PNP) under category 1.

He said Category 1 took into consideration the history of intense political rivalry among contending parties that could lead to violence instigated by private armed groups (PAGs).

He cited the history of intense political rivalry that included the province in EWAs in 2013 national and local polls, particularly the history of political killings recorded in Bayambang, Urbiztondo, San Carlos City, Manaoag and Mapandan.

Okubo added the presence of two PAGs in the province is one of the risk factors cited for its inclusion in EWAs.

He added that they have also accounted for 22 criminal gangs with 103 personalities, and presence of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and National Democratic Front particularly in the Tarlac-Zambales boundaries and encroaching in the southern part of Pangasinan.

But so far Okubo said he does not expect any immediate movements from the PAGs.

Another risk factor, he said, are the estimated 994 loose firearms in the hands of criminal gangs and 12,482 firearms whose licenses were not renewed as of Jan. 26 this year.

When asked to describe his plans to ensure peaceful elections, Okubo said he has created task groups to work closely with local officials of the towns and cities guided by his mantra – The police is the community, and the community is the police.

(Tita Roces/Johanne Macob)

PANGASINAN AS ‘HOTSPOT’ HAS BENEFITS – OKUBO

LINGAYEN–The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) aims for a zero violence election-related incident in the coming May 9 election and cited the advantages presented by the inclusion of Pangasinan as an ‘election-watch area” (EWA)

“My objective is zero election-related incident in Pangasinan this election,” said officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan PPO, speaking during the question hour of the Pangasinan provincial board on Feb. 1.

P/Sr. Superintendent Edgar Allan Okubo, officer-in-charge at the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office as police director, said that Pangasinan as an EWA, it will have the privilege of having additional troops to maintain peace and order in the 20 ‘hotspots’ in the province.

At the same time, police stations of towns and cities needed additional manpower will be augmented by additional troops from either PNP or the Philippine Army (PA).

Okubo said that at least 200 additional policemen, including those from the PA, could be assigned to Pangasinan to complement the present 2,699 uniformed personnel to ensure the conduct of safe, clean and credible elections.

Among the measures being adopted by the PPPO to ensure safe and credible election is the operation of checkpoints 10 times a day in strategic areas in every town and city.

He said the checkpoints have already been instrumental in the arrest of a number of persons, mostly drug traffickers, violating the election gun ban. “The serving of arrest warrants to wanted criminals have been intensified,” Okubo added.

In addition, he said, ‘Oplan Lambat Sibat’ has been intensified as well for the “One Time, Big Time Operation” against criminal elements. (Leonardo Micua)

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