SAMAL, Bataan — The Commission on Elections (Comelec), in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government(DILG), on Saturday conducted here the first peace covenant in the province in connection with the May 14 elections for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (KB) candidates.
The candidates from 14 barangays in Samal wearing various colors signed the “Pangako ng Katapatan” after being briefed by lawyer Gilbert Almario, the provincial election supervisor, on the dos and don’ts on campaigning.
The nine-day campaign period started Friday and will end on May 12.
Chief Inspector Emelito dela Cruz, the Samal police chief, administered the Pangako ng Katapatan.
“The objective of the PNP is to have an orderly and honest election. I hope here the elections are honest and orderly,” Senior Supt. Marcelo Dayag, the Bataan police director, said.
He said since the start of the campaign period, there was no reported untoward incident in the province.
“The candidates in Bataan are very cooperative,” Dayag said.
Senior Inspector Eric Manuel, the Samal deputy police chief, said Samal is a peaceful municipality.
“Now, there is an ongoing signing of the peace covenant for barangay and SK elections,” he said.
“The call of the Comelec to the candidates is not to make things complicated. It should be simple so as not to be tainted by an election-related incident,” Almario said.
He said that candidates have to respect the required size of campaign materials and the places where these should be posted.
“The simple rules if not being followed, what will happen? If you are elected, you will be the one who will make laws in your villages, thus, you need to know the simple rules and regulations,” he told candidates.
“The peace covenant is a good start in Samal,” Almario said.
He said he has directed election officers in the other towns to conduct similar peace covenants. (Ernie Esconde/PNA)
