Election watchlist inclusion a preventive measure - Comelec

DAGUPAN CITY – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Pangasinan clarified the inclusion of the province in the election watchlist area (EWA) released by  the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the 2016 polls.
Provincial Election Supervisor Marino Salas said the PNP has its own parameters in determining those that are to be included in the list.
“ It is more of a preventive measure on the part of the PNP,” Salas said in an interview.
Salas added that Pangasinan was also included in the  watchlist during the 2013 elections but no election-related violence was listed.

The Comelec is set to conduct its command conference on Thursday  and is expected to tackle the need to release a list of areas of concern or areas of immediate concern for next year’s elections.
P/Sr. Supt Rollie Saltat, officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, said having the list is a pro-active strategy and  must not be a cause of worry  for Pangasinenses.
“ Hindi ibig sabihin na magulo (pag napasama sa listahan). Sa termino ng kapulisan, madadagdagan ang pwersa ng kapulisan para mabantayan ang eleksyon,” Saltat said.
Some of the parameters used by the PNP to include an area in the watchlist include: history of election-related violence, perceived intense political rivalry and presence of armed groups. (VHS/PIA-1Pangasinan)