Article by:
Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Candidates from the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (BaSulTa) signed on Saturday an Integrity Pledge initiated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The candidates seeking different elective posts vowed to fully respect the laws and democratic process that would redound to the conduct of honest, peaceful, and orderly national and local elections on May 9.
The signing of the Integrity Pledge, held at the Basilan State College Amphitheater, was witnessed by Comelec Chairperson Saidamen Balt Pangarungan, Commissioner George Erwin Garcia, and other top poll body, police, and military officials.
“As we forged this covenant of peace, we pledge to abhor violence to have a peaceful election,” Pangarungan told the candidates.
Pangarungan noted that the last elections in BaSulTa areas showed improvement as there was less violence reported compared to the previous ones. However, he did not give any figures.
“I pray to Allah (God) that the situation will further improve this coming May 9 elections,” he added.
He urged the candidates to respect the people’s votes and the sanctity of the ballot.
“We categorically declare that our campaign shall fully respect the will of the electorate and not seek to unduly influence them by offering money, or other things of value, in exchange for votes,” part of the Integrity Pledge read.
Lawyer Ray Sumalipao, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) election director, said the covenant signing is to get the commitment of the candidates for peace and orderly conduct of the May 9 elections.
Sumalipao said they have not yet recorded any violent incident although there is intense rivalry in some of the elective posts in this province.
There is also intense rivalry in the province of Tawi-Tawi but no violent incident was reported.
He noted that the election campaign in Sulu is peaceful since the top posts—governor, vice governor, and two congressmen—in the province are uncontested.
However, Sumalipao said the town of Malabang, Lanao del Sur, has already been placed under Comelec control due to election violence recorded two days ago.
Meanwhile, Pangarungan said the Comelec, through the chairperson, is now empowered to quickly respond to severe cases of violence in areas of election concerns. (PNA)
Log in with Google