LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, (PNA) — The Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), composed of police and soldiers, formed prior to the barangay election are still in Pangasinan until after the election period is over.
Sr. Insp. Ryan Manongdo, spokesman of the Police Provincial Office (PPO), said the QRTs will still be in the province till Nov. 12, the end of the election period.
The QRTs comprised the reinforcement teams from the Police Regional Office 1, Regional Public Safety Mobile Company and the Philippine Army sent to Pangasinan to help the local police maintain peace and order during the polls.
He said since the election period is still on, the checkpoints will still be on and that the election gun ban is still in effect which means the carrying of firearms outside of residence by any civilian is still prohibited.
Since the election period began Sept. 28, 2013, at least 25 persons were arrested by the police for violation of the gun ban.
Manongdo said that overall, the whole province was generally peaceful and orderly in 48 towns of Pangasinan during the barangay election.
He said no incident was noted whatsoever that disrupted the conduct of voting in all the more than 1,300 barangays of Pangasinan.