More checkpoints ordered for peaceful May polls

By Mar T. Supnad

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- Region 1 police director Chief Supt Constante D. Azares, Jr. has ordered his men to install more checkpoints in the region in compliance with an order from the Commission on Elections for peaceful elections come May.

Azares visited the towns of Sual, Dasol, Burgos, Mabini, Bani, Bolinao, Anda, Labrador and Lingayen, and the city of Alaminos, all in Western Pangasinan.

He inspected police stations, talked to his men and reminded them to strictly adhere to the Comelec rules on the total gun ban and the conduct of checkpoint operations.

Azares also witnessed turn-over of shotguns earlier issued by the provincial government to heads of barangays in line with an agreement made during the Comelec-PNP-AFP conference for the shotguns to be placed in the custody of police stations during the election period to pre-empt the possible illegal utilization of the weapons especially in the identified Election Watchlist Areas (EWAs).

The regional police chief also inspected checkpoints in said towns and checked on the preparedness of troops.