LUCENA CITY – Police, military, religious, and local Commission on Election (Comelec) officials led the unity walk and peace covenant signing among candidates vying for positions in this city on Friday, Feb. 4.
Police Colonel Joel Villanueva, Quezon police chief, vowed that the entire police force in the province, together with the Comelec, will pursue the realization of the peace covenant to protect their citizens’ right and freedom to vote.
“I beseech everyone in the community to work with us and support our campaigns to achieve the common goal that promulgates peace,” Villanueva said in a statement.
Candidates for mayor, vice-mayor, and city councilors here in the capital city of the province attended the event. Governor Danilo Suarez, his challenger Congresswoman Helen Tan, and other provincial, district candidates also showed up.
The Unity Walk started at the Old City Hall building at the city center at around 7 a.m. and culminated at the parking area of SM Lucena Mall where the peace covenant signing was also held.
Suarez left before the walk started due to his commitments in Tiaong and Dolores towns but declared his full support to the spirit of the peace covenant.
“I urge all candidates in the province to respect the sanctity of the ballots and avoid resorting to any forms of violence and harassment to thwart the free will of the people,” he said in a phone interview.
Suarez noted that the election history in the province has long been peaceful and without any violence between opposing candidates and their supporters.
“Let us all work together and preserve the untarnished history of our local political exercises,” the governor said.
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