Pinoy VOTE

The signatories were led by Orientnal Mindoro Gov. Arnan C. Panaligan and Dr. Marpheo E. Marasigan, both gubernatorial candidates; first district Rep. Rodolfo G. Valencia and second district Rep. Alfonso V. Umali Jr., congressional candidates, and other bets running for various elective positions in the province.

The PNP, acting on a directive of PNP Director-General Oscar Calderon, initiated the signing of the peace covenant, in coordination with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, headed by Bishop Warlito I. Cajandig, the Comelec, and the AFP, represented by Colonel Chan.

Chief Superintendent Cachuela said that the PNP "will ensure that the May, 2007 elections will be the cleanest and most orderly elections that we have had in recent yyears." He added that the PNP is "putting its best foot forward in discharging its election duty with the same intensity and enthusiasm as in the other major events that were handled in the past."

Cachuela appreciated the support extended by the local governments, political parties, the clergy, media, non-governmental organizations, election watchdog organizations in complementing the police security measures that the PNP is "implementing on orders of the Comelec."

Meanwhile, the PNP has launched a crackdown on alleged "private armies" of candidates running for various positions in Oriental Mindoro in the May 14 elections.

The PNP drive, being conducted in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), is in response to a complaint lodged by reelectionist Mayor Apollo Feraren of San Teodoro town, who alleged that a rival mayoral candidate is "maintaining an army of 12-man fully armed security guards in his campaign sorties."

Feraren, a candidate of the Liberal Party, identified his rival as Homer Almusin, a Manila-based businessman.

He said that Almusin’s security force is composed of "four elements of the Philippine Army, two members of the PNP Regional Mobile Group, and six members of the Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Office." They described them as armed to the teeth."

Chief Supt. Napoleon C. Cachuela, police Mimaropa regional director, said that he will look into the complaint of Mayor Feraren and will find out if Almusin’s security force has clearance from the Commission on Elections (Comelec). "If there is none, the PNP will immediately disband it," he said.

Col. Mario Chan, commanding officer of the 204th Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said that the four Army men mentioned in Feraren’s complaint are "not members of the 204th Infantry Brigade."

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