/PNA
PALO, Leyte — The Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office in Eastern Visayas will lead early Sunday the unity walk, interfaith prayer rally and covenant signing as part of preparations for the May 13, 2019 elections.
Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, PNP Regional Director, said on Thursday the event is designed to advocate for a secure and fair national and local elections this year.
In the regional capital, the unity walk will start at Coca-Cola Junction. The unity walk will be arranged into a one huge walk group with a length of 1.2 kilometers to be led by a marching band. Police field offices will also organize the same event on Sunday in provinces, cities, and towns.
This is a joint effort of the PNP, Commission on Elections, National Police Commission, Departments of the Interior and Local Government, of Justice, and of Education.
The event is also a partnership with the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Department of National Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.
“Through this activity, we want to promote awareness and invoke the intervention of the Almighty for the upcoming elections,” Carlos said.
Also joining are students taking the National Service Training Program, school officials, some candidates, religious groups, and non-government organizations.
“We enjoin all the candidates to be part in the signing of the peace covenant for them to commit themselves to the real essence of the covenant which is to have peaceful, non-partisan, honest, and fair elections. At the end of the day, we are all citizens of this country working together for a better Philippines,” Carlos said.
Election period in the Philippines will start on Jan. 13, which signals the enforcement of a total gun ban in the country.