CANDIDATES the police, and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) officials gathered on February 7 at the Magilas Hall in Camp Antonio Sison in Lingayen for a peace covenant signing ceremony.

It seeks to foster unity and cooperation among law enforcement, electoral bodies, and political candidates in Pangasinan in upholding peace during the midterm elections in May.

The peace covenant itself, also done at the city or municipal level, reflects a collective pledge to an election free from violence, corruption, armed groups, and mudslinging.

Among the politicians who attended were: former Dasol mayor Noel Nacar, Board Member Jerry Rosario, former board member Generoso Tulagan Jr., Mangaldan Councilor Aldrin Soriano, George Absolor, a representative of Congressman Mark Cojuangco, a representative of Aksyon Dapat party-list, Alvin Fernandez, Cisco Flores of Tulungan Tayo partylist and Ed Gonzales.

In an interview, P/Colonel Rollyfer Capoquian, Pangasinan police director, addressed concerns on warrantless arrests for those caught vote-buying and gun ban violators.

“We all know that vote-buying is an offense during elections. So, we have implemented preventive measures like the program I mentioned, the 2-hour habit,” he said, explaining that it involves simultaneous patrolling activity carried out by all mobile cars across the entire province.

“We believe that constant patrol and police visibility will deter all forms of criminality in the area,” he said.

On the warrantless arrest declaration of the COMELEC, Capoquian said law enforcement officers are thoroughly trained to adhere to operational procedures and are aware of the legal exceptions when conducting warrantless arrests, particularly when a crime is being committed in their presence.

He also assured that the eight election areas of concern in Pangasinan, including Aguilar, Binmaley, Malasiqui, Mangaldan, San Quintin, Sual, Urdaneta City, and ­­­­­­­­Dagupan City are under constant monitoring, and where additional forces will be deployed if necessary.

Further, he confirmed that there are currently no known private armed groups in the province, a promising sign for the peaceful conduct of the elections.

In a separate interview, Atty. Eric Oganiza, provincial elections supervisor, said given the dynamic nature of the election period, the situation in these areas could still change, with the possibility of either downgrading or upgrading their security status.

Meanwhile, Oganiza said three aspirants in Pangasinan were declared by COMELEC as nuisance candidates and have already been removed from the ballot: one for mayor of San Manuel, one for councilor in Lingayen, and one for councilor in Manaoag. (Eva Visperas)

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