CABANATUAN CITY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Nueva Ecija have spearheaded the simultaneous launching of inter-faith prayer rallies, unity walks, and peace pact-signings in various parts of the province, calling on all political candidates to abhor violence and promote peace and security in the run-up to the May 9 national and local elections.

Provincial police head Col. Jess B. Mendez said the separate launching went on smoothly as planned with local candidates attending the PNP-Comelec joint undertaking in the towns of San Antonio, Jaen, San Leonardo, Talavera, General Natividad, Guimba, Rizal, Santa Rosa, Carranglan, and Santo Domingo, and the cities of Palayan and Gapan.

In Talavera, town police head Lt. Col. Jackyll Bilibli said the attendees were led by Team Kaunlaran members composed of Mayor Nerivi Santos-Martinez, who is gunning for vice mayor, and his younger brother, Association of Barangay Chairmen president Nerito “JR” Santos Jr., who is aspiring for the mayor post.

Santos Jr.’s mayoral rival, Vice Mayor Junjun Rodiel joined the event but another bet for mayor, Jojo Libunao skipped the proceedings, said Bilibli.

Also present during the peace pact-signing were Nerivi’s vice mayoral rivals – Brando Bautista and Leo Lacsamana, added Lt. Col. Bilibli.

In San Antonio, police head Maj. Abraham C. Atencio said the unity walk and peace covenant signing ceremonies that were held last Thursday, Feb. 24 were “successful.”

Joining the event was the “Team Gawa Hindi Salita” led by Mayor Arvin C. Salonga and Vice Mayor Julie E. Maxwell. The “Team Javier,” its rival, led by retired general and mayoral aspirant Agripino G. Javier, however, did not show up at the event, said Atencio.

Mendez said the launching of the said activity provides an avenue for all political bets to abhor violence and embrace peace and unity, especially during the election period, and that its attendance is not mandatory as they are free to decide whether to go or not.

Also joining the event as partners of the police and the Comelec were representatives of the Department of Education (DepEd), the military, and members of various religious and community groups in the province.

In Jaen town, the group was led by reelectionist mayor Sylvia C. Austria and his vice mayoral-running mate-son, town councilor Atty. Sylvester Austria, and AKSYON Demokratiko mayoral bet Ramir Dela Cruz were among those present during the peace covenant proceedings.

Absent were two of Mayor Sylvia’s rivals – former mayor Antonio Prospero Esquivel and independent bet Crispin Laureano, said police head Maj. Romualdo Reyes.

Also skipping the event was Esquivel’s son Lawrence Anthony “TonyBoy” Esquivel, who is running for vice mayor as an independent and another independent candidate, reelectionist vice mayor Luisito Austria.

Mendez, whose assumption into office as the province’s top cop on January 9, coincided with the official start of gun ban implementation nationwide and the 150-day election period for the May 9 polls, said he immediately started doing courtesy calls to mayors, including provincial leaders, urging them to help the police and the community in the conduct of a safe, accurate, free and fair elections (SAFE 2022) this coming May 9.