PRO8 leads 100 bikers for SAFE 2013

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
April 29, 2013

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – In yet another effort to ensure a secured and fair elections come May this year, some 100 bikers from different bikers clubs in the region participated in the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) Peace Caravan for SAFE 2013 on Sunday morning which kicked-off from Calbayog City and Calbiga town and ended at the Catbalogan City plaza, all in Samar province.

“The support and participation of the bikers is a welcome development and exemplifies a good partnership from various sectors of society and PRO8 in attaining SAFE 2013,” said Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria, PRO8 Regional Director.

Soria added that the activity aimed to promote awareness among the electorate and political candidates in securing vital support to ensure secured and fair elections in Samar province, one of the identified priority areas for the midterm polls.

Participating bikers representing the Samar Off-Road Bikers Association led by its president Mr. Ashley Albaña and DILG Northern Samar Provincial Director Valentin Bajet led the bike tour from Calbayog City, some 72 kilometers to the convergence point in Catbalogan City plaza, at around 5:00 o’ clock early Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, at around 6:00 A.M., bikers from Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) Bikers Association led by PSSupt. Romulo Cleve Taboso, Samar Adventure Mountain Bikers Association headed by Mr. Joel Cinco and Catbalogan Bikers Association led by Mr. Aron Garcia also biked from Calbiga, some 44 kilometers to Catbalogan City.

The caravan from Calbayog City passed through the municipalities of Sta. Margarita, Gandara, San Jorge and Tarangnan in the province’s first district while bikers from Calbiga passed through the towns of Hinabangan, Paranas, Motiong and Jiabong, all in the second district of Samar.

After a simple welcome ceremony, the participants released white balloons symbolizing the advocacy of Secured and Fair Elections (SAFE) 2013.

Soria added that the caravan forms part of the left-hand effort initiated by PRO8 to achieve peaceful polls, aside from conducting focused police operations.

At the start of election period last January 13, PRO8 initiated the Peace Covenant Signing in Calbayog City with DILG Secretary Mar Roxas presiding and supported by the Roman Catholic church, other election stakeholders and the candidates themselves and on January 20, thousands of people actively participated in the PRO8-initiated Unity Walk and Prayer Rally for SAFE 2013 in Tacloban City in a show of full support in attaining a peaceful May 13 polls.