THE Commission on Elections-Davao Region (Comelec-Davao) successfully conducted the Peace Covenant Signing and Candidate Briefing on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in preparation for the upcoming National and Local Elections (NLE). The event saw the participation of several prominent political figures, except for the Duterte family.
Among the key attendees were mayoral candidate Karlo Nograles, First District congressional aspirants Victoria "Magz" Maglana and Margarita "Migs" Nograles-Almario, along with city council candidates from the Hugpong party.
It can be noted that former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is running for mayor, has been detained in The Hague, Netherlands since March 11 over his alleged crimes against humanity. Paolo Duterte, who is running for First District Representative, was reportedly out of the country for personal reasons from March 20 to May 10 as confirmed by the House of Representatives.
In an ambush interview with mayoral candidate Karlo Nograles, he emphasized the importance of the peace covenant signing and commended the electorate council for its efforts.
"This is a big deal. I congratulate Comelec for conducting and initiating this integrity pledge. It is important that before the start of the campaign, everyone is aware of the do’s and don’ts. More importantly, we all sign the integrity pledge to ensure the elections are honest, orderly, peaceful, and clean. It is crucial that before the campaign starts, everyone commits to the success of the election," Nograles stated.
He also affirmed his understanding of the campaign rules. Regarding his preparations for the election, he added, "We are always ready. At the end of the day, it’s the people who decide. We can only offer ourselves as platforms of government, what we stand for, and our plans for the city. We are all here to offer services to the people."
On the other hand, First District congressional candidate Margarita "Migs" Nograles-Almario also emphasized the importance of fair elections, stating, "Walang panloloko, disinformation sa mga tao, and really walay panghadlok. We should ensure a fair election because, at the end of the day, it is the choice of the people”
(There is no deceit, disinformation, or intimidation towards the people. We should ensure a fair election because, at the end of the day, it is the choice of the people).
The Peace Covenant Signing and Candidate Briefing are crucial events in preparation for the upcoming elections. It is a ceremonial pledge made by political candidates, parties, and their supporters to ensure peaceful campaigns and a violence-free election. It promotes non-violence, discourages electoral fraud, and upholds the rule of law.
On the other hand, the candidate briefing is a session where candidates are provided with essential information about election rules, regulations, and proper conduct during the election period. These activities aim to ensure that all candidates are well-informed, fostering a transparent, orderly, and peaceful electoral process.
Election preparations and guidelines
City Election Officer IV for Davao City’s First District, lawyer Sittie Shahane P. Balt, confirmed that the city has 366,439 registered voters, 418 clustered precincts, and 59 voting centers. Final testing and sealing of automated counting machines will be conducted from May 2 to 7 at polling places assigned to Election Boards (EBs).
On May 12, 2025, Election Day, early voting will be from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., while regular voting will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Each polling place will allow one or two authorized watchers per party, who must meet specific qualifications.
On a separate note, lawyer Shajani M. Ebrahim, City Election Officer IV for the Third District, reminded candidates of responsible campaigning. He noted that national candidates can campaign from February 11 to May 10, while local candidates may campaign from March 28 to May 10. Campaigning is prohibited during Holy Week, the night before the election, and on Election Day.
Additional reminders include: broadcast election propaganda is limited to 60 minutes for television and 90 minutes for radio; only sustainable, environmentally friendly campaign materials are allowed; government-owned vehicles and public transportation cannot be used for campaign purposes; and vote-buying and illegal election propaganda are punishable offenses.
On the other hand, Comelec-Davao assistant regional director lawyer Gay Enumerables, clarified the definition of vote-buying, emphasizing that offering money, goods, or favors in exchange for votes is a punishable offense. Activities such as distributing campaign materials alongside cash or grocery items are considered presumed acts of vote-buying. DEF with reports from Cine Grace Languay, DorSU Intern
