38 Ilocos towns, cities on poll watchlist

SAN FERNANDO, La Union, Philippines — Police have identified 38 towns and cities in Ilocos, including Sudipen and Balaoan in La Union, as election watchlist areas (EWAs) in connection with the May polls.

Superintendent Mary Crystal Peralta, Ilocos police information officer, said Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos Norte each have eight EWAs while Ilocos Sur has 14. 

“Most of the towns and cities are under category 1 or areas of concern while two in La Union, specifically Sudipen and Balaoan, are placed in category 3 or areas of immediate concern because of recent... political killings,” Peralta said yesterday. 

Sudipen Mayor Alexander Buquing and Balaoan Vice Mayor Al-Fred Concepcion were killed in ambushes last year.  

Peralta said 11 towns in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte are classified as areas of immediate concern due to intense political rivalries. 

She said the list was based on validated reports of the police. 

Peralta said augmentation forces from other police units would be deployed in the region. 

“We are very much open to additional troops as we would like the elections in the region to be safe and secure,” Peralta said.

She said checkpoints and other police operations have been intensified, especially in Sudipen and Balaoan, since the start of election period on Jan. 13.

She urged citizens to be vigilant and report any untoward incident in their areas.