11 towns in Region 1 under Comelec control

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – A total of 11 towns in this province and nearby La Union have been placed under the watch list of the Commission on Elections in relation to the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Oct 25.

The Comelec said the declaration of the 11 towns under Comelec control was to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections.

Based on assessment of the Comelec in the two provinces, areas under the list have a history of election-related violence and incidents that could be traced to as far as several elections ago.

The same was observed during the first automated elections, which warranted implementation of measures to abate escalation of violence in the places.

In Pangasinan, the towns and cities included in the list were Urbiztondo in the second district, Bayambang and San Carlos City in the third district, Dagupan City in the fourth district and Sta. Maria, Natividad and Tayug in the sixth district while in La Union, the towns placed under the watchlist include Naguilian, Agoo, Aringay and Tubao, all in the province’s second district.

Police and election officials claimed the reason for the inclusion of the aforesaid places in the areas under the election watchlist was intense political rivalries among friends, relatives, brothers and sisters seeking key positions in the forthcoming elections.

They predicted more election-related violence and incidents because positions for punong barangay and kagawads as well as SK chairpersons and kagawads are surely hotly contested, especially in barangays where there are numerous aspirants for elected positions.

Aside from the strict implementation of the total gun ban in relation to the conduct of the elections, the Comelec and PNP are also evaluating possibility of deploying additional police and military to the areas declared under election list to instill law and order and prevent violence that could lead to loss of lives and damage to properties before, during and after the elections.

As part of the enforcement of the total gun ban, law enforcers were instructed to conduct regular foot and mobile patrols as well as mobile and stationary checkpoints that will help in controlling use and display of licensed or unlicensed firearms by unscrupulous individuals who use the weapons for personal and political interests.