Officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the military and candidates in this year’s polls held unity walks and prayer rallies in various areas and signed a covenant for peaceful elections.
The unity walks and signing of peace covenants were held in Quezon City, Bulacan and Marawi City.
Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, Police Regional Office 3 acting director, said the events were organised by the Comelec, the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines. The event in Bulacan was joined by 500 police personnel. The unity walk started at 4.30am at the historic Barasoain Church and ended at the provincial capitol gym.
Coronel said delegates and other stakeholders from Region 3 came from various government agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways, National Police Commission, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail and Management and Penology, and Commission on Higher Education. Members of non-government organisations and barangay (village) officials also took part in the events.
Only a few aspirants in the May midterm polls, however, turned up for the signing of the peace covenant.
The prayer rally was led by Msgr. Pablo Legaspi, pastor John Pangilinan and Ustag Gamor from the Muslim community.
Temie Lambino, Comelec regional director, said the events symbolised democracy and a better community where they want to showcase honest, orderly and fair elections.
At least 6,000 people joined the events in Quezon City. Aside from Comelec, police and military officials, representatives of the Public Attorney’s Office, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) were also present.
Among the politicians seen at the event were Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino, Rep. Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list, former DILG secretary Rafael Alunan 3rd, women’s rights advocate Samira Ali Gutoc-Tomawis, human rights lawyers Lorenzo Tanada 3rd and Jose Manuel Diokno, and former communications assistant secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson, among others.
Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel, director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), said the groups assembled in front of the Quezon City Hall at 4 am and marched to the Quezon City circle. In his speech, Metro Manila Police director Guillermo Eleazar said the unity walk should serve as a warning to threat groups attempting to disrupt the elections.
“We are united as one guarding the peacefulness and maintaining the cleanliness of this year’s polls,” Eleazar said.
In Marawi, candidates for elective positions in Lanao del Sur vowed to make the May 2019 elections peaceful and credible as they joined the unity walk and prayer rally.
Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office Director Police Senior Supt. Madzgani Mukaram said 400 politicians and members of various groups participated in the event.
He said the candidates signed a peace covenant titled “Integrity Pledge,” where they vowed to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections.
Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., Philippine Army 103rd Brigade commander based in Kampo Ranao, challenged candidates to keep the upcoming electoral exercise peaceful.
Also on Sunday, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said poll officials were scheduled to visit the facilities of the National Printing Office (NPO) to see its readiness for the printing of ballots. Jimenez said the printing machines of the NPO can churn out 800,000 ballots a day.
“At this point, we see no problem meeting our timeline,” he added.
The NPO will print more than 60mn ballots, including those for overseas voters.
During the 2016 elections, 85 embassies and consulates were designated as polling centres. Overseas voters are only allowed to vote for national candidates such as president, vice president and senators.
Jimenez also reminded police and military personnel manning Comelec checkpoints around the country that the “plain view doctrine” or visual inspection is in effect.
He said checkpoints must be located in well-lit areas and manned by uniformed personnel of the PNP or AFP.
Under Comelec Resolution 10468, police or military personnel should not compel motorists to step out of their vehicle, unless there is a reasonable ground.
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