North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza signs the Integrity Pledge during the Solidarity Walk and Ride for Peace organized by the Police Provincial Police on Saturday in Kidapawan City.
KIDAPAWAN CITY—North Cotabato officials committed on Saturday to a free, orderly, honest, and peaceful conduct of elections during the "Solidarity Walk and Ride for Peace" organized by North Cotabato Police Provincial Police.
Led by incumbent North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, the local officials running for office in the May elections marched through the Capitol grounds in Amas, where the signing of the integrity pledge took place.
In signing the "integrity pledge," the candidates committed to abide by the tenets of the Constitution, election laws, rules and regulations, and respecting the sanctity of the electoral exercise.
They also vowed to ensure the prompt and accurate reporting and disclosure of campaign-related expenses, and promised not to offer bribes or gifts to corrupt the integrity of the democratic process.
They also pledged to fight against discrimination in all forms, promote gender sensitivity in the campaign and will not tolerate any form of violence against women in politics.
Police Provincial Director, Police Col. Maximo Layugan, said the presence of the local officials and the political candidates is a manifestation of their commitment to a peaceful election.
“We believe that election is not only a work of one sector. The people should be united in ensuring a safe and secure election,” Layugan said.
Layugan underscored the cooperation of candidates in attaining peaceful and clean elections, assuring that the police will remain neutral, fair and apolitical.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Provincial Election Supervisor Jay Gerada said the poll body's limited number of workers does not deter them from ensuring that the electoral exercise remains free and fair.
“Kaunting sakripisyo para sa isang malayang halalan (Just a little sacrifice to achieve a free election),” Gerada said. (PNA)
