Quezon bikers, runners join AFP campaign for clean, safe polls

LUCENA CITY — At least 1,500 bikers and runners from Quezon on Sunday joined the military campaign for a safe and clean election.

Major General Caesar Ronnie Ordoyo, head of the military’s Southern Luzon Command based in Camp Nakar here, said they initiated the sport activity dubbed as “Takbo at Padyak para sa Ligtas at Patas na Halalan 2013” to create public awareness that it is the responsibility of all Filipinos to keep the coming election safe and credible.

“The government and the people should unite for the success of the election for the sake of the next generation,” Ordoyo said.

Ronilo Dagos, chairman of National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-Quezon chapter, led a group of local media practitioners that joined the activity.

Dagos, an avid biker, said journalists should not only cover the news but should also participate in civic awareness campaign as part of their duty as responsible citizens.

Early in the morning, the runners and bikers composed of policemen, Army soldiers, students, journalists and their respective family members on a Sunday bonding trip answered the starting gun inside Camp Nakar.

Ordoyo led the bikers that cruised the highways of Lucena and neighboring Tayabas City.

The marathoners ran from 5 to 10 kilometers around the city proper. The activity was capped with a program at the camp.