210 soldiers to help secure polls in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – About 210 soldiers will be deployed in Pangasinan to help the local police maintain the peace and order in the coming elections.

Col. Nick Alarcio, deputy brigade commander of 702nd Army Brigade and commander of Task Force Amianan, told The STAR that an armored vehicle (Simba type) was deployed yesterday in Alaminos City.

Another armored vehicle is stationed in their headquarters in Binmaley town ready for deployment in areas considered as elections hotspots.

So far, 80 Army personnel have been deployed since April 10 to San Manuel, San Carlos City and Mangatarem.

“The rest of the 130 soldiers will arrive 10 days or one week before the elections and would be deployed in identified areas of concern,” Alarcio said.

Task Force Amianan was formed specifically to maintain peace and order in La Union and Pangasinan provinces.

“All our movements have clearance from the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) led by Commission on Elections supervisor Atty. Marino Salas,” Alarcio said.

He said the deployment of Army personnel is a preventive move against private armed groups (PAGs) hired by some politicians to sow harassment.

“PAGs couldn’t act because they know we are closely monitoring them,” he added.

Alarcio said it is still very peaceful in Pangasinan and if there were any shooting incidents reported, these were mostly due to personal grudge.

The PJSCC held a meeting last Thursday to discuss security preparations for the election with emphasis on “one PNP personnel” for every polling centers and deployment of augmentation units.