EV folks unite for SAFE 2013

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
January 21, 2013

CAMP RUPERTO K. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – Thousands of people from all walks of life committed themselves for a “secure and fair” electoral exercise and actively participated in Sunday morning’s Unity Walk and Prayer Rally for SAFE 2013 in a show of full support in attaining a peaceful May 13 polls.

Police regional director Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) expressed his appreciation to the more than 3,000 participants who walked from three staging points to Balyuan amphitheater in Tacloban City for the prayer rally. The participants include top government officials and employees, religious leaders, military, students, academe, civic groups, election watchdogs and other election stakeholders.

“Any electoral exercise needs guidance from the Almighty so we could choose the right leaders that would guide us in the next few years. The electorate has a significant role to play in ensuring a peaceful conduct of the polls and the true will of the people must be reflected and not as a result of violence and intimidation,” Soria said.

The top police official also assured that PRO8 will continue to conduct aggressive police operations in the crackdown of “partisan armed groups” and loose firearms in the region.

Leaders of various religious groups led the inter-faith prayer, followed by the lighting of the unity candle, recitation of the Voters’ Pledge, signing of the Pledge of Commitment, and releasing of doves and white balloons to signify the united effort of all the participants towards “secure and fair elections” 2013.

The activity was held following the successful peace covenant signing in Samar last January 13 with DILG Secretary Mar Roxas presiding and supported by the Roman Catholic church, other election stakeholders and the candidates themselves.

Unity walks and peace rallies were also held in the cities of Catbalogan and Calbayog in Samar, Catarman in Northern Samar, Borongan City in Eastern Samar, Maasin City in Southern Leyte and Naval, Biliran.