BAGUIO CITY – Police authorities and various election watchdogs in the city signed a pledge of commitment signifying their being non-partisan in the upcoming May 9, 2016 general and automated elections.
The commissioned and non-commissioned and non-uniformed personnel of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) committed that they shall not engage in any partisan political activity during the election period in order to prevent people from casting doubts on the integrity in the conduct of the political exercise.
“We shall be free from any party affiliation or exhibit any bias to any group, party, or cause. We shall uphold the will of the electorate by protecting and maintaining the integrity of the ballot and the credibility of the elections,” the oath of non-partisanship signed by officers and men of the BCPO stated.
The law enforcers committed that they shall conduct themselves as professional police officers worthy of the trust and confidence of the Filipino people.
Senior Superintendent George D. Daskeo, BCPO acting city director, assured the different candidates aspiring for various elective positions, their supporters and the city’s electorate that the over 500-strong men and women of the local police force will remain committed in the conduct of honest ,orderly and peaceful elections considering that they do not want the image of the city to be tainted by any untoward incident that might disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections.
Since time in memorial, Daskeo cited the city has always been regarded as the most peaceful area during the conduct of the elections that is why they do not want the occurrence of any incident that might affect the image of the city.
The BCPO official appealed to the candidates, their supporters and the electorate to be vigilant on what activities are happening within their respective places and report to the nearest police station whatever illegal activities are being done so that concerned agencies will be mobilized to act on such illegal activities, especially if the peaceful and orderly elections will be compromised.
City Election John Paul Martin cited the men and women in uniform of Baguio’s finest for their continued dedication in making sure that the secure and free elections in the city will be upheld considering that the peaceful conduct of the elections in the city is being looked upon by other areas as worthy of emulation.
Election and local officials are doing their best to inform and educate the local electorate on the allowed and prohibited activities during election day for them to be guided accordingly and to prevent unnecessary disagreements among candidates and their supporters that might disrupt the conduct of the political exercise.
Martin called on the electorate to come out on election day and vote for those whom they believe will be able to lead the country and the city in the next term but advised them to be wise voters so that the greater interest of the majority of the populace will be upheld.
By Dexter A. See
