Incumbent local government officials and other political aspirants in the province of Davao Oriental signed on Wednesday, February 2, a peace covenant for honest, orderly, and peaceful elections.
Many local candidates graced an interfaith prayer rally and covenant signing being initiated by the Davao Oriental Police Provincial Office (DOPPO) in coordination with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the 701st Kagitingan Brigade of the Philippine Army at the Provincial Capitol Covered Court.
The participants were political aspirants from different political parties led by vice-gubernatorial aspirants Niño Sotero L. Uy, Jr. (Nacionalista Party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago) and Glenda Monette R. Gayta (PROMDI) along with the different Sangguniang Panlalawigan member aspirants.
Police Colonel Efren Orlina, Provincial Director of DOPPO, said that as the local campaign is slated to start next week, “it is very important to maintain peace in our communities.”
“We conducted this activity to ensure that we will achieve our goal of a peaceful and orderly elections in May 2022,” he added. Atty. Krisna Samantha Caballero, Davao Oriental Election Director, led the so called “integrity pledge” that encourages candidates to support the conduct of honest, orderly, and peaceful elections (HOPE). She said the presence of the candidates and other stakeholders in the activity showed their sincere commitment to peaceful elections.
“The interfaith prayer rally and peace covenant signing is an agreement for an honest and peaceful election this coming May,” Caballero said. She also emphasized that the covenant signing serves as an indirect mandate for all of the candidates to perform honest campaigning, and to take care of the environment by placing their campaign materials appropriately without harming the nature.
Caballero also thanked the Davao Oriental Police Provincial Office and the election partners for initiating the covenant signing as the election is not only the work of one sector, rather “it needs other groups of people for us to attain our main objective.”
Provincial Director of the DILG Orle Cabaobao said the active support and involvement of line agencies of the government such as the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, other non-government organizations, government agencies, the candidates, and the electorate are needed.
Cabaobao reiterated the true meaning of the covenant signing and hoped that the candidates will fulfill their pledges and contribute in the attainment of a peaceful and orderly elections. By Shaye Dacles ❘ Photos by Mark Alvite
