ILOILO City – “Candidates and their supporters must observe sportsmanship. Ang eleksyon dumadaan lang ‘yan so dapat maging cool lang sila.”
This was the unsolicited advice of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director Senior Superintendent John Bulalacao to candidates in the midterm elections this May 13.
Today starts the campaign period for candidates running for local elective posts – governor, vice governor, provincial board members, city and municipal mayor and vice mayor, city and municipal council members, and congressman.
“Hopefully no election-related violent incidents will happen during the campaign period for local candidates,” said Bulalacao.
The PRO-6 is prepared to maintain peace and order throughout Western Visayas, he stressed.
Bulalacao urged candidates to follow the Omnibus Elections Code.
Vote buying and the use of private armed groups are prohibited.
The sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages a day before and during election day is also prohibited.
“We are once again reminding local candidates and their supporters to never violate the Omnibus Elections Code to avoid disqualification or criminal charges. We expect candidates and their supporters to be responsible people,” Bulalacao added.
There will be checkpoints and the gun ban remains in place, he stressed.
The regional police director also revealed that police chiefs would be taking a refresher course on human rights.
The police must uphold human rights while carrying out their mandate, Bulalacao stressed.
Yesterday, Bulalacao and Brigadier General Dennis Siervo, chief of the
Philippine National Police’s Human Rights Affairs Office, inspections various police stations and checkpoints in Iloilo City./PN
