Bulacan holds unity walk, covenant signing
A TOTAL of 51 local candidates led by two gubernatorial contenders joined a unity walk and the signing of a peace covenant for Secure, Accurate, Free and Fair Elections 2022 held on Thursday.
The activity was spearheaded by the Bulacan Police Provincial Office (PPO) led by acting provincial director Col. Rommel Ochave in coordination with the Commission on Elections headed by Bulacan Provincial Election Supervisor Rene Cruz Jr. together with other participating stakeholders from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police, Department of Education, Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine Army, and representatives from religious groups, academe and nongovernment organizations.
Cruz said the activity was in support of peaceful and safe national and local elections on May 9, 2022 as he encouraged all the candidates to do their part to achieve such polls.
The event kicked off with the 200-meter unity walk starting from the Bulacan PPO headquarters at Camp General Alejo Santos to the provincial capitol’s KB Gymnasium.
Reelectionist Gov. Daniel Fernando and his vice gubernatorial candidate Alex Castro led the National Unity Party while their opponents from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan was headed by incumbent Vice Gov. Willy Alvarado and his running mate and former congressman Joselito Mendoza.
The provincial level candidates for the 2022 elections were accompanied by their respective supporters, who were limited to only 15 persons each inside the gymnasium.
Darwin David, DILG provincial director, said the province of Bulacan always had peaceful and honest elections in the last nine years.
Fernando said he accepts the challenge to hold peaceful, safe and honest polls.
The activity was highlighted by the ceremonial peace covenant signing of the integrity pledge.
The religious sectors were represented by Fr. Arvin Rey Jimenez from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and Imam Omar Manaleon Samsodin of the Muslim Affairs Office.
Meanwhile, First District congressional candidate and reelectionist Jonathan Sy-Alvarado, vice gubernatorial candidate Bogs Violago, Rep. Rida Robes of the lone district of the City of San Jose del Monte and her husband Mayor Arthur Robes, Fourth District Rep. Linabelle Villarica and Meycauayan City Mayor Henry Villarica failed to appear in the activity.