PLEDGE A candidate of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party signs a peace covenant for the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections in a forum held in Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur, on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR PNP
COTABATO CITY—Candidates in the two Maguindanao provinces vying for seats in the Bangsamoro parliament signed peace covenants for a peaceful and honest elections ahead of the start on Wednesday of the campaign period for the historic regional elections.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) had set the campaign period for the Sept. 14 parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) until Sept. 12. A gun ban is in effect across the BARMM for the duration of the election period that will end on Sept. 29.
The candidates for district representatives, political parties and sectoral representatives in the Bangsamoro parliament vowed on Tuesday to uphold honesty, accountability, respect for the rule of law, and the principles of democracy throughout the election period.
They also assured the public that they will not use force or violence “during the campaign, Election Day and after the electoral process.”
Unity walk
Before the covenant signing in Maguindanao del Sur, election stakeholders, local police and military officials, and the candidates gathered at the provincial capitol grounds in Buluan town for a unity walk followed by a candidates’ forum
“The activity underscored the collective resolve to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and credible electoral process,” said Col. John Michael Mangahis, Maguindanao del Sur police director.
Lawyer Allan Kadon, Maguindanao del Sur provincial election supervisor, Brig. Gen. Edgar Catu of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, Brig. Gen. Omar Orozco of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, and the candidates walked together from Buluan Bridge toward the provincial capitol grounds in a show of unity behind the aim of making the upcoming polls credible.
Kadon presented the candidates for district representatives and regional political parties as well as Comelec regulations and campaign guidelines.
“This historic election belongs to the Bangsamoro people and their future,” he said.
The first BARMM parliamentary elections would have been held in 2022, but postponed several times.
The BARMM was established in 2019 as an offshoot of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the landmark peace deal inked in 2014 by the national government and the erstwhile rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Kadon urged the candidates to transform platforms into genuine action for communities and assured the public that authorities will exert all efforts to secure the electoral process so residents may vote freely and without fear.
In Maguindanao del Norte, the Comelec led the candidates’ forum and peace covenant signing held at the provincial gymnasium in Barangay Simuay, Sultan Kudarat town.
Also present were Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, commander of 602nd Infantry Brigade; Lt. Col. William Sabado, 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion chief; Lt. Commander John Paul Cabarrubias, Philippine Coast Guard Maguindanao head; Lt. Col. Victor Donque, commander of Marine Battalion Landing Team 5; school superintendents and representatives from Comelec-recognized election watchdogs.
Rejecting violence
Lawyer Mohammad Nabil Mutia, Maguindanao del Norte election supervisor, said the candidates have pledged “to reject all forms of election-related violence, intimidation, vote-buying, electoral fraud, disinformation, and other unlawful acts that could undermine the integrity of the polls.”
He said the covenant signing was organized to encourage participants to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and help ensure that the inaugural Bangsamoro parliamentary elections will be peaceful, secure, free, fair and credible.
Highlighting the program is the symbolic release of white doves representing peace, hope, and unity.
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