DAGUPAN CITY, (PNA) — Only few voters are now flocking to the polls in various election centers in Dagupan as of 1 p.m. Monday.
An estimated 70 percent of the voters already went to the polls early in anticipation of early rains this afternoon.
This was observed at the North Central School in barangay Bonuan Gueset, the largest village in Dagupan in terms of area and voting population with more than 12,000 voters.
Voting are not lining up anymore, and no children and other campaigners are distributing handbills for candidates unlike in previous polls.
This is also the situation in other voting centers in other 31 barangays of Dagupan City which are observed to be now all relatively calm due mainly to the presence of policemen and other peace officers who are ready to respond to any emergency situation and implement the law.
There were two uniformed policemen on duty at North Central Elementary school that ensured there were no disturbances including vote-buying occured in the area.
Provincial elections Officer Marino Salas said the voting will be only up to 3 p.m. and no extension will be made.
However, if the voters are already in the polling place before 3 p.m., voting will continue until they cast their votes.
At the West Central Elementary School, a city councilor was asked by the policeman on duty to stay outside the premises of the school if he is not voting or has already voted.
A report said Councilor Guillermo Vallejos was asked by SPO4 Rudy Navarro, the policeman on duty there to stay out of the school premises as only voters are allowed in the area.
The report said it was Mayor Belen Fernandez who herself called the attention of the police when she noted the presence of Vallejos inside the school campus when she voted in that school at 10 a.m Monday.
Vallejos has a mother and a brother running against each other for punong barangay in Poblacion Oeste in this barangay election. It was learned that Vallejos is siding his mother Lolita over his brother Joseph in this fight.