DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, March 21 (PIA) -- The Diocese of Dumaguete, through its Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Negros Oriental have intensified their calls for a clean, safe, and orderly conduct of election in the province.

DEB and the PNP here organized a Solidarity Walk and Covenant Signing for a Peaceful Election on March 18 to raise awareness on this advocacy.

Around 200 political aspirants vying for elective government posts across the province joined the activity, along with police officers in every city and municipality, church volunteers, and DEB youth volunteers. 

The solidarity walk began at 3:00 p.m. at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish and culminated at Quezon Par where a program was held at 4:00 p.m.

The program was highlighted with the recital and signing of election covenant where political candidates signified their support for a Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful, and Peaceful (CHAMP) elections and committed to follow election rules and regulations to ensure an orderly conduct of local polls.

Diocese of Dumaguete Bishop Most Rev. Julito Cortes lauded the candidates who participated in the activity.

“Thank you for honoring this covenant signing. Your personal signatures proclaim your commitment to honor the intentions of this covenant signing as endorsed by our COMELEC. May we be reminded that we are here as brothers and sisters, fellow Filipinos, not just candidates against voters, not one party member against another. Before anything else, the good of our country should be our guiding principle,” Cortes said. 

DEB Lead Convener Msgr. Julius Heruela also challenged the political candidates to embody CHAMP values at the start of the campaign until the last day of election period when winners are proclaimed.

“Ipatigayon nato kini gikan sa panahon sa pagpangampanya, sa adlaw sa eleksyon, hangtod sa pagproklamar sa mananaog. Angayan ang katawhang Filipino maoy modaog tungod sa atong panighiusa karon (Let us carry out these values at the start of the campaign period, on Election Day, and until the proclamation of winners. Let the Filipino people become the true winners with the unity we have started today),” Heruela said.

Local candidates will begin their campaign on March 25.

Meanwhile, PNP Negros Oriental Provincial Director PCol. Germano Mallari appealed for public cooperation to help law enforcement agencies maintain the peaceful and orderly atmosphere for the elections.

“Dili namo mahimo kana kami lang sa PNP (We cannot do it alone at the PNP). We would like to ask your assistance and the support of all the candidates and all the people of Negros Oriental to help us and support us para makab-ot nato ang (so we can achieve) peaceful elections come May 2022,” Mallari said.

The activity also coincided with the launching of the Kasimbayanan Program of the PNP.

Kasimbayanan stands for Kawani, Simbahan, at Pamayanan.

It aims to forge a partnership between law enforcement agencies, the Catholic Church and other religious groups, and the community for a safe and secure election.

Cortes led the blessing of “SAFE” Pins of the PNP which were distributed to the participants of the event.

The activity ended with the releasing of doves led by Cortes together with Heruela, Mallari, COMELEC Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, Philippine Army 302nd Infantry Brigade Commander BGen. Leonardo Peña, Department of the Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Farrah Gentuya, Philippine Information Agency Provincial Infocen Manager Jennifer Tilos, Acting Senior Pastor of Silliman University Church Rev. Leny Jovita, and Imam Abdul Maula of the Muslim Community. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)