INTEGRITY PLEDGE. More than 500 candidates for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in Legazpi City pledge their commitment to uphold peace during a peace covenant signing and candidates’ forum at SM City Legazpi, Albay province on Monday (Sept.18, 2023). Legazpi City has a total of 2,704 candidates from the 70 villages. (PNA photo by Connie Calipay)
LEGAZPI CITY – Over 500 candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) here made an integrity pledge for violence-free and fair elections.
During a peace covenant signing at SM City Legazpi on Monday, Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Legazpi City election officer Connie del Castillo said the event signified the sincerity and willingness of the candidates to make the Oct. 30 poll polls peaceful.
Legazpi City has a total of 2,704 candidates from its 70 villages.
"Ito po ay napaka-importante, kung saan mismong mga kandidato ang nanumpa sa isang honest, maayos, safe na eleksiyon (This is very important, where candidates swore to an honest, orderly, safe elections). We expect that they abide by what they pledge. We already informed them what are the rules provided by the Comelec that they need to follow," del Castillo said in an interview.
She reminded the candidates and their supporters to avoid campaigning on all platforms before the start of the campaign period on Oct. 19 to 28.
Del Castillo said the candidates must understand all the guidelines set by the Comelec to prevent election chaos.
"So far based on our monitoring, we haven't recorded any pre-mature campaigning here," she said.
Lt. Col. Rey Anthony Villanueva, officer-in-charge of the Legazpi City police, said they are ready for the upcoming elections.
"We have 43 voting centers including one here in SM Legazpi, meron na tayong mga tao (we already have police personnel) ready, and designated for deployment during the election day. We continue to conduct checkpoints, we also increase police visibility and we conduct barangay visitations for proper information dissemination," Villanueva said in an interview.
Also present during the peace covenant signing were representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Naval Forces Southern Luzon, Bureau of Fire Protection, city government and Albay Provincial Police Office. (PNA)
