CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A group pushing for the economic development of Central Luzon condemned the inclusion of Pampanga as one of the 15 provinces named as high-risk areas in terms of political violence in the upcoming 2013 elections.
Sonny Dobles, president of the Alliance for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL), said on Tuesday that Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas “deliberately put anew Pampanga in a bad light” after including the first-class province in the priority watch list of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for incidence of violence in the 2013 midterm elections.
In a press conference at in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Friday, Roxas named Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Abra, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Batangas, Cavite, Masbate, Samar, Misamis Occidental, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan as election hotspots purportedly due to “loose firearms and the presence of private armed groups and other threat groups that could cause violence in the identified high-risk areas.”
Pampanga and Nueva Ecija are the only provinces of Central Luzon in the list.
“I see it as either politically motivated or Secretary Roxas really wants to pull down Pampanga and nearby provinces to damnation in terms of economic and social development,” said Dobles.
He cited the failure of Roxas then as Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) secretary to “lift a finger” in pushing for the development of the Clark International Airport (CIA) as “another premiere airport of the country.”
“You can’t win all provinces to your side. This is a democracy. Please, Mr. Roxas, stay away from Central Luzon as we need more jobs and investors here,” said Dobles, adding that “no doubt Pampanga is the regional economic hub of Region III.”
Dobles said Roxas’ inclusion of Pampanga “is wrongly discouraging other interested businesses from investing in a highly progressive Pampanga.”
Dobles, who joined the Angeles City government during the term of former Mayor Antonio Abad Santos from 1988 to 1992, said “in the past several years, there was serious political violence in Pampanga.”
“People in Pampanga love each other in general. There some but not so serious political violence but they were in the past and could be considered isolated,” said Dobles.
PML PRESIDENT
A different view however was expressed by Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda.
“That’s good because the DILG and other police forces of the PNP will help us maintain the peace and order in Pampanga,” Pineda commented. “Ultimately, it’s a harmonious, progressive and peaceful place we want and we welcome all help.”
Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, president of the Pampanga Mayors’ League (PML), described as “unfair” Roxas’ branding of Pampanga as one of the elections hotspots in the country.
“What is there to fear about Pampanga? I myself roam freely in our town and nearby areas without thinking of being hurt,” said Pelayo in a phone interview on Tuesday morning.
Pelayo said Roxas’ statement during the November 16 PNP-DILG meeting in Camp Crame “surprised” him.
He added that when Roxas convened the regional peace and order council last October at the Clark Freeport attended by all governors except Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., the DILG secretary cited the lower number of crimes rates in Pampanga and other provinces.
In the latest report of the PNP headquarters at Camp Olivas, crime rate has plunged by 40.88 percent, with Bulacan recording the highest crime rate.
Regional police operations and plans division head Supt. Eden Ugale earlier noted that total index and non-index crimes in the first nine months of 2012 numbered to 17,461 which is a significant drop from the reported 29,535 crimes in 2011.
The same report said that Bulacan registered the highest number of crimes in Central Luzon during the period with 7,352 followed by Nueva Ecija (2,057); Pampanga (1,871); Tarlac (1,354); Zambales (1,071); Bataan (1,016); Olongapo City (846); and Aurora (448).
“As you can see we are the second most populated province in Central Luzon. No doubt Pampanga is the most progressive area now and only Bulacan can be at par with us in terms of economic development.
But look at the number of crimes in Bulacan compared to Pampanga,” said Pelayo. “And we deserve to be in the hot spot list? That’s very unfair!”
