FOR SECURITY. Sixty personnel from the Regional Police Office 1 (PRO-1) were deployed to Pangasinan Friday (Oct.27, 2023) to augment security in the province ahead of the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) information officer Capt. Renante dela Cruz said they have deployed additional Philippine National Police and Philippine Army teams in two villages placed under orange category to provide security to the residents and electoral boards. (Photo from Police Regional Office 1)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – An initial 60 personnel from the Regional Police Office 1 (PRO-1) have been deployed to Pangasinan Friday to augment security personnel ahead of the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) information officer Capt. Renante dela Cruz, in a phone interview, said they have deployed Philippine National Police and Philippine Army teams in two villages placed under orange category to provide security to the residents and electoral boards.
“Pupwede pa itong madagdagan sa mga susunod na araw (The number might still increase in the coming days),” he said.
The Philippine Coast Guard also sent deployments to the province.
An area is placed under the orange category if there is intense political rivalry and incidents of shooting that involve BSKE candidates.
An incumbent village councilor, Salvador Tan Garcia, running for village chief post in Barangay Asin East in this town was wounded after he was shot last Oct. 3.
In Barangay Bayaoas, Aguilar town, Arnel Flormata, a candidate running for village chief was killed last Oct. 22 after a campaign sortie.
Three other villages in the province have been placed under yellow category due to a history of election-related incidents and intense political rivalry.
PPPO Director Col. Jeff Fanged, in a press conference Thursday, said the 3,112 police personnel in the province are on full alert and quick response teams have been assigned in all district polling precincts on Oct. 30.
Comelec Pangasinan provincial election supervisor lawyer Marino Salas, in a phone interview Friday, said the situation in the province remains under control despite the two shooting incidents involving BSKE candidates in different villages.
He said suspects in Flormata’s shooting, Maria Magnolia Repascol Gelido, 58, incumbent barangay captain and is running for re-election, Kelly Doroy Rosario, 54, chief watchman and candidate for village council member Barangay Dorongan Punta, Mangatarem town were arrested following the surrender of Jason Marquez Vicente, 32, farmer, on Oct 24.
PPPO said a murder case was filed against the suspects and another John Doe, who allegedly drove the motorcycle used as a getaway vehicle and is still at large.
Salas said the spouse of the victim will substitute in his candidacy and has already filed her certificate of candidacy.
On the suspects' candidacy, he said they may continue with their candidacy as long as they are not yet convicted. (PNA)
