By Liwayway Yparraguirre/PNA
DAGUPAN CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will conduct mock polls for the mid-term elections in four barangays (villages) in Pangasinan on January 19.
Dagupan City election officer lawyer Ericson Oganiza said it will be participated in by about 100 voters in each cluster from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. in barangays Poblacion and Telbang in Alaminos City, and Bonuan Boquig and Salapingao in Dagupan City.
“The names of the candidates in the ballots are all fictitious. After voting is closed, the votes will be canvassed and the results will be transmitted,” he said during the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas forum on Thursday.
Meanwhile, lawyer Alipio Alonzo Castillo III, Pangasinan Election Supervisor, said the simulated or mock elections are “very important” as it will help the Comelec assess their preparedness for the conduct of midterm elections.
Pangasinan is among the top three provinces with the biggest number of voters at 1.95 million in 2,632 clustered precincts.
Meanwhile, declared as election watch list areas are Dagupan City, Sto. Tomas, Bayambang, Rosales, Sual, Urbiztondo, Pozorrubio, and Balungao towns.
“Yes, we have areas of concern pero hindi dapat ito dapat pagtuunan ng pagka-alarma ng mga tao (but it should not alarm people),” Castillo assured.
“No one and nobody can prevent Comelec and the government from conducting an effective and trustworthy election in all towns and cities. Lahat ng resources ng gobyerno ay nasa Comelec at support agencies kagaya ng Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) kaya hindi dapat ma-alarm (All resources of government are in Comelec and support agencies like the PNP and AFP that’s why, it should not cause alarm),” he added.
