ASPIRANTS for the different elective positions in the province of Lanao del Sur have signed a covenant for a free, honest, credible, orderly and peaceful election in the province.
A total of 128 candidates vying for provincial, city and municipal positions participated in the signing of the Peace Covenant held on Friday, April 26, and organized by the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade in Lanao del Sur.
Lawyer Allan Kadon, Lanao del Sur election officer, acknowledged this gesture and hopes for a repeat of the highly peaceful Special Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in the 96 Barangays of Marawi City (BSKE) last year.
Dubbed as the “most peaceful election yet,” the Marawi Special BSKE concluded with no fatalities.
“The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) is geared for a free, honest, credible, orderly and peaceful 2019 mid-term elections. I have committed my term to achieving a successful election during my assumption as the brigade commander,” said Colonel Romeo Brawner, Jr., Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade commander.
While security forces have expressed optimism in the outcome of the elections, the military warned spoilers undermining the security of the election.
“We will take into restrictive custody any individual who will be caught buying votes or engaging in violence. This is to ensure integrity and security in our polling areas,” Brawner added.
In last year’s BSKE polls, security forces took into restrictive custody several personalities caught in the act of vote buying and engaging in fistfights at polling areas. All were released as soon as the elections came to a close.
“With the support expressed by the candidates, the civil society organizations and the voting populace, we are confident that the result of the elections will embody the aspirations of our Meranao brothers and sisters towards a peaceful and prosperous Lanao del Sur,” Brawner said.
Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief, said they will maximize the deployment of troops to ensure a peaceful, orderly and credible conduct of election.
“We will ensure that there will be no failure of elections in our area of responsibility,” Dela Vega added.
The covenant signing was participated by the officials and representatives of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Commission on Elections and other stakeholders. (SunStar Philippines)