LINGAYEN, Pangasinan Feb. 28 (PIA) – To achieve clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful elections, a unity walk and peace covenant signing among candidates vying for positions in Pangasinan are set on Monday, February 28.
 
The activity will start with a mass at 6:30 in the morning at the Epiphany of the Lord Parish Church here to be followed by the unity walk towards Lingayen auditorium at the municipal public plaza for the peace covenant signing program.

Lawyer Ericson Oganiza, provincial election supervisor, said the unity walk and peace covenant signing will show the commitment of political candidates and their supporters to have peaceful and clean elections.
 
On February 24, the Secure Accurate and Fair Elections (S.A.F.E.) National and Local Elections 2022, and “Kapulungan ng Pulis, Sundalo, Bantay Dagat, Comelec, at Lahat ng Lingkod Bayan Kasama ang Simbahan at Pamayanan (Kasimbayanan) was launched at Pangasinan police’s parade ground in Camp Antonio U. Sison.
 
“We hope for honest, orderly and peaceful elections and para ma-attain ‘yan, dagdagan natin ng faith. We have to be persistent, tuloy-tuloy ang pagganap sa ating mga tungkulin ng naaayon sa batas,” Oganiza said during the launching ceremony.
 

On the other hand, PCOL. Richmond Tadina, provincial director of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office said, “Ating inilunsad ang kaganapang gaya nito upang lalo pa nating mapaigting ang ating pagkakaisa bilang mga pangunahing instrumento na itinalaga upang bantayan ang integridad ng darating na halalan.”
 
The event showcased the lighting of the “SAFE” candles and pinning of the “SAFE 2022” pins by officials and representatives from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and religious leaders.

They also signed a manifesto to ensure that the upcoming May 9 national and local elections will be peaceful and safe.
 
The ceremony culminated with the benediction of religious leaders and the releasing of white doves as a symbol of ushering the country to inclusive change and prosperous and peaceful life for the Filipino people.
 
In an interview, Col. Tadina shared that there are three towns in the province which are considered as areas of immediate concern.
 
These are Sual, Sto. Tomas and Urbiztondo due to the incidents that occurred in these localities during the past elections.
 
Meanwhile, the Comelec and their partner government agencies conducted the Oplan Baklas and removed campaign materials of national candidates posted in trees and electric posts along main roads on Friday.
 
The authorities did not remove campaign materials placed within private properties.
 
Under Resolution No. 10730, Comelec prohibits posting, displaying or exhibiting any campaign material “outside of authorized common poster areas, in public places, or in private properties without the consent of the owner.” (JCR/AMB/PIA Pangasinan)