LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The Pangasinan Police said Tuesday the conduct of this year’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) was generally peaceful amid minor incidents recorded.
Pangasinan Police information officer, Chief Insp. Norman Florentino, in an interview said there were only minor incidents in some areas, including in Barangay Bued in Calasiao, which was included in the election watch list areas (EWAs).
The Calasiao Police has reported that former vice mayor, Roy Macanlalay, has been complained by Hannah Jorieza Reyes, Feliza Reyes and Vicky Reyes on May 14 for allegedly accusing the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) assigned in cluster 38 polling precinct in Bued of connivance and conspiracy.
In Dagupan City, two persons were arrested by the police for distributing a libelous material against two incumbent and re-electionist barangay councilmen in Pogo Chico on elections day.
Police identified one of the arrested individuals as Kemjay de Guzman, 21, a resident of barangay Pogo Grande, while the other is a minor.
Florentino disclosed that an incumbent and re-electionist barangay chairman in Tayug was also arrested over an alleged vote-buying incident.
“There were also some supporters who were called out as they were campaigning within the polling precinct on the day of election,” he added.
Meanwhile, some 200 policemen from Police Regional Office 1 (Ilocos) who reinforced the Pangasinan Police, joined officials of the latter in a “boodle fight” on Tuesday.
“They will now return to PRO-1 as the BSKE is almost over. Nonetheless, our policemen in the province will continue to conduct checkpoints until the election period is over on May 21,” Florentino said.
He said police personnel were still securing the ballot boxes, which were already at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office. (Hilda Austria and Ahikam Pasion/PNA)
