The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) is advocating for the conduct of peace and orderly national and local elections on May 12 through the signing of peace covenants among the local candidates.
Since last week, candidates in five local government units (LGUs) have participated in separate covenant signing activities hosted by their respective police offices and stations.
“We assure the public that NOCPPO will exert all efforts to maintain a peaceful and orderly election,” NOCPPO Director Colonel Rainerio de Chavez said in a statement on Monday, February 10.
On Sunday, February 9, a unity walk preceded a peace covenant signing at Moises Padilla town auditorium attended by local candidates, led by Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo and Vice Mayor Adrian Villaflor.
The former allies will vie for the mayoral post.
The candidates were joined by officials and representatives of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Commission on Elections (Comelec), other concerned agencies and sectoral groups.
Similar activities were also hosted by the Toboso Municipal Police Station on February 3; E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station on February 4; Bago Component City Police Station on February 5; and Sagay Component City Police Station on February 6.
Through the peace covenant, the candidates vowed to respect sovereignty and laws by adhering to the constitution, election laws and Comelec regulations; engage in fair campaigning by focusing on platforms and avoiding personal attacks; and ensure clean elections by rejecting vote-buying, fraud and intimidation.
They also pledged to take accountability for the actions of their campaign teams and accept election results with integrity and respect for the people’s decision.
On February 7, De Chavez met with Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria to discuss the security plans for the upcoming elections, particularly the ongoing peace covenant signing activities, police participation in election duties and potential security concerns in yellow zones or areas with a history of political unrest identified by the Philippine Army. (PNA)