October 16, 2023
With just over two weeks before the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos on Saturday led a peace covenant signing in the Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Maguindanao del Sur province where he urged all candidates to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful elections.
In his speech during the signing ceremony at Brgy. Adaon, Abalos emphasized that barangay officials should serve as model citizens to their constituents as they are the national government’s “frontliners” in delivering public service to the people.
“Itong posisyon na ito ay napakabigat. Importanteng tayo ang maging modelo sa ating mga kababayan. Ang mga bata sa ating lugar, iyan ang paglilingkuran n’yo, pati mga magulang nila, at lalong-lalong na iyong mga walang laban na tao,” Abalos said.
“Kaya ang hinihingi ko sa inyo, dapat walang gagamit ng dahas. Walang bibili ng boto. Dahil ang maluluklok, iyan ang magiging lider natin, iyan ang magiging huwaran natin. Sa kanila naka-atang ang kinabukasan ng mga batang ito, ng ating barangay, ng ating munisipyo, ng ating probinsya, at ng ating bansa,” he stressed.
Residents and candidates of different barangays in the Municipality of Datu Anggal Midtimbang joined the peace covenant signing. Maguindanao del Sur Governor Bai Mariam Mangudadatu, Vice Governor Nathaniel Midtimbang, Municipal Mayor Maryjoy Estephanie Midtimbang, and local police officials also signed the peace covenant.
Prior to the event, Abalos was briefed about the peace and order situation in Region XII and the Bangsamoro Region at the Police Regional Office XII Regional Headquarters in Tambler, General Santos City, where he urged police officers to review election laws and exercise maximum tolerance while providing security assistance on the ground.
“Alam kong kayo ang imomobilize pagdating ng eleksyon. Kaya always keep this in mind: kailangan alam nyo ang batas pagdating sa eleksyon. For example, ang Board of Elections Inspectors, ang AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) o mga pulis ang uupo kung walang tatao diyan,” the DILG Secretary said.
He added: “There must be proper training here. Hindi dapat mainit ang ulo at dapat mahaba ang pasensiya. And remember, you are wearing the Philippine National Police uniform, kayo ang authority on the ground.”
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has declared October 30 a special non-working day nationwide to allow Filipinos to cast their votes in the barangay elections.
Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/Abalos-leads-peace-covenant-signing-in-Maguindanao-del-Sur-urges-BSKE-bets-to-shun-violence/NC-2023-1195