Poll bets sign ‘oath of unity’

SIGNING of the “Panata ng Pagkikiisa” (Oath of Unity) by political candidates highlighted the consultative conference of the Independent Commission Against Private Armies on Thursday in Zamboanga City.

The candidates who signed the oath of unity are from the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi that form part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).

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The oath binds the candidate-signatories to adhere to the election laws to ensure the conduct of honest, orderly, and peaceful elections in May 10 in their respective provinces.

Before the signing of the oath, the candidates from the three provinces have presented before the commission the situation prevailing in their respective province as far as security is concerned.

Justice Monina Arevalo-Zenarosa, who chairs the commission, said the aim of the consultative conference is to get first hand information from the concerned stakeholders in three provinces.

The Zenarosa Commission also imparted to the participants of the consultative conference the commission's mission and trust in dismantling private armies in the countries.

The consultative conference was the first to be held here since the creation of the Zenarosa commission.

Zenarosa, however, said the concerned leaders are willing to disband their private armed group provided that others will do the same thing at the same time.

Of the 112 private armed groups recorded by the Zenarosa Commission, 20 are based within the Armm.

Armm comprises of the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Marawi City aside from Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The commission was created through Administrative Order No. 275 issued on December 8, 2009 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (Bong Garcia)