85 Negros, Pangasinan villages on poll watchlist

MANILA, Philippines — The number of barangays identified as election watchlist areas (EWA) in Negros Occidental in connection with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections is down to 80 from the previous 95.

Inspector Charmae de Paz, Negros Occidental police spokesperson, said more barangays could be stricken off the watchlist pending validation, monitoring and worskhops conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). There are 601 barangays in Negros Occidental, excluding Bacolod City.

In Pangasinan, five barangays – Binmeckeg in Sison town, Bued in Calasiao, San Roque in San Manuel as well as Poblacion and Dalanguiring in Urbiztondo – were included on the watchlist due to intense political rivalry.

The poll body is using a color-coding system in declaring areas of concern. Those tagged as yellow have a history of violent incidents in previous elections; orange, with armed and rebel groups, and those with both are red or “critical areas.”

On the election gun ban, De Paz said 17 persons were arrested and 20 firearms were recovered in Negros Occidental. Six other guns were turned over by their owners for safekeeping.

Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, Pangasinan police director, said 289 firearms were surrendered by 144 barangay captains and 145 council members in the province.

Around 60 percent or 26,899 of 44,159 candidates in Pangasinan have also undergone drug test.

Marino Salas, Pangasinan election supervisor, said drug test is not mandatory for candidates. – Eva Visperas