TACLOBAN CITY -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have initiated the signing of peace covenant by all candidates for the May 14 village and youth council elections in Eastern Visayas region.
Senior Supt. Leonardo Suan, PNP Eastern Visayas deputy regional director for operations, said the signing has kicked off in Northern Samar last week and it will be done in other provinces after the Comelec provides the final list of official candidates.
All candidates for the village positions from village chief to council members, and for Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) positions, are enjoined to sign the peace covenant to ensure peaceful, clean, non-partisan and honest elections, according to the PNP official.
The signing will be done during candidates' forum in every towns and cities.
“We ask all chiefs of police in the region to invite all candidates and initiate the signing of peace covenants. Candidates are not obliged to join, but their presence is a manifestation of their commitment to peaceful and orderly elections,” Suan told reporters on Monday.
On top of the peace covenant signing, policemen will also visit communities with history of poll-related violence to conduct the "operation election tokhang." Tokhang is a combination of Cebuano word tuktok (knock) and hangyo (persuade).
For PNP, the term refers to knocking on suspected drug trafficker or drug addict's home to persuade them to surrender and stop their illegal activities.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified 284 villages in the Eastern Visayas region as election hotspots, citing intense political rivalries, threats of armed rebels, and violence committed by criminal groups.
PNP-8 (Eastern Visayas) Director Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz said in a press briefing Friday night they identified these areas in consultation with other security agencies, and also based on the parameters set by the Comelec.
Northern Samar has the most number of areas on the watchlist with 114, followed by Samar (82), Eastern Samar (60), and Leyte (28).
These villages are in the towns of Bato, Carigara, Tabango, Alangalang, Albuera, Burauen, Hilongos, Inopacan, La Paz, Leyte, Macarthur in Leyte province; Basey, Calbayog City, Calbiga, Daram, Hinabangan, Jiabong, Marabut, Matuguinao, Motiong, Paranas, San Jose de Buan, Sta. Margarita, and Talalora in Samar; Can-avid, Dolores, Hernani, Jipapad, Llorente, Maslog, Arteche, Balangkayan, Balangiga, General Macarthur, Giporlos, Maydolong, San Policarpo, Sulat, and Taft in Eastern Samar; Catarman, Catubig, Laoang, Lapinig, Las Navas, Lope de Vega, Mapanas, Pambujan, Palapag, Rosario, San Jose, San Isidro, and Silvino Lobos in Northern Samar. (PNA)
