PRO8 partners with church for peaceful May 2013 polls

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
December 18, 2012

CAMP RUPERTO K. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte  –  The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) will be partnering with the Roman Catholic Church to help ensure the peaceful conduct of midterm elections next year, especially in the province of Samar.

“The involvement of the religious community is necessary to thwart election-related incidents and political violence especially in ‘priority areas’,” Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria, Eastern Visayas Regional Director said, adding that the support of the church's hierarchy is vital in ensuring a secured and fair elections.

Soria met with Most Reverend Isabelo C. Abarquez of the Diocese of Calbayog last December 8, accompanied by Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG) commander Police Senior Superintendent Edgardo O Basbas and Samar Provincial Director Police Senior Superintendent Eusebio A Mejos.

Among the salient agenda during the meeting are the conduct of special mass and drafting of peace covenant among PRO8, Church leaders and local officials scheduled on January 13, 2013 to get a commitment from local candidates for peaceful and orderly elections next year.

“This is intended to emphasize to the electorate that we are serious in making next year’s polls to be peaceful and the best way to encourage the support of candidates to commit themselves to support an orderly elections,” Soria added.

Bishop Abarquez also assured that he will encouraged priests under his diocese and the church’s social arm in conducting fora and other means of voter’s education to educate the electorate on responsible voting.

Soria added that PRO8 is also coordinating with other religious groups to help local law enforcement authorities in carrying out a violence-free electoral exercise.

He reminded the public to “remain vigilant and responsive to any unscrupulous activity that may impede the peaceful conduct of the May elections.”