BRGY., SK BETS ASSURE PEACEFUL ELECTION

Gun owners in two towns in Cebu Province also surrendered their unlicensed firearms. Police ask candidates to report to them conflicts in their villages instead of resorting to violence. Police, Comelec, military already finalizing their security measures

Residents of Liloan, Dumanjug, Sogod, and Bogo City can hope for a peaceful May 14 elections after more than 1,400 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates joined unity walks in the past two days.

Some 743 candidates in Cebu City also vowed to keep the elections safe when they signed a peace covenant, with officials of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) and Commission on Elections (Comelec) as witnesses.

Of the 743, more than 70 of them came from 10 mountain barangays in Cebu City.

Gun owners also surrendered 172 unlicensed firearms in Liloan and 31 in Dumanjug, while poll officers discussed the law on fair election and reminded the candidates not to buy votes.

Last Wednesday afternoon, Liloan Police Chief Randy Korret presented the loose firearms to Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Edgar Alan Okubo and Liloan Mayor Ma. Esperanza Christina Garcia-Frasco.

Korret reminded the candidates not to resort to violence in resolving conflicts with opponents, saying that they can report their problems to the police.

Okubo had recommended 15 villages in Cebu to be placed in the election watchlis areas (Ewas) as election-related incidents happened in these places in the past years.

Seven barangays in Tuburan were included in the list; three in Bogo City; three in Daanbantayan; and one each in Medellin and Tabogon.

In Cebu City, Senior Insp. Arieza Otida, deputy chief of the Police-Community Relations of CCPO, said that they initiated the signing of a peace covenant to ensure a safe election.

Candidates in Barangays Taptap, Adlaon, Guba, Lusaran, Sirao, Cambinocot, Tagba-o, Binaliw, Agsungot and Paril signed the covenant in the Adlaon gym yesterday morning.

Other police stations also initiated a simulateneous signing of peace convenants yesterday.

Officials from the police, military and Comelec will convene today to finalize their security measures for the upcoming polls.

SUNSTAR FOTO / RUEL ROSELLO PROMISES. Personnel of Cebu City Police Office assist those who are seeking reelection and running for elective posts in Cebu City villages in signing a convenant to keep the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections peaceful.