DILG-CAR, CRPOC call on political aspirants to pledge ‘peaceful polls’ in Abra

DILG CAR PRESS RELEASE

April 7, 2025

BANGUED, ABRA – The Cordillera Regional Peace and Order Council (CRPOC) is hoping for a fair and safe elections in the Province of Abra after candidates gunning for top elective posts pledged their commitment to maintain a peaceful and honest Midterm Elections during a meeting and Covenant Signing held at Camp Colonel Juan Villamor on March 31, 2025, in this capital town.

The CRPOC, led by its Chairperson Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, called for a special meeting with the candidates vying for posts at the Municipal and Provincial government to address the unrest and concerns of citizens arising from the string of alleged election-related incidents (ERI) reported across the province.

Upon the request of the CRPOC chair, the Department of the Interior and Local Government – Cordillera (DILG-CAR), through Regional Director Araceli A. San Jose, immediately mobilized the DILG Abra Provincial Office and its Municipal Local Government Operations Officers (MLGOOs) to assemble and ensure the attendance of all political aspirants to this meeting.

Prior to meeting with the candidates, the CRPOC Executive Committee convened to discuss the current Peace and Order Situation in the Province of Abra and the consequent interventions the concerned agencies must undertake to address the issues presented.

This special meeting was attended by Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Chief for Administration PLTGen Jose Melencio C Nartatez Jr,; PRO-CAR Regional Director PBGen David K Peredo Jr.; DILG-CAR RD San Jose; 501st Infantry Brigade Commander BGen Dean Mark Mamaril; Commission on Elections-CAR Regional Election Director Atty. Julius D. Torres; and Acting Abra Governor Russel Bragas.

Magalong requested the PNP, particularly through the PNP-Abra Provincial Police Office (PPO), to intensify its efforts to maintain peace and order in the province and to become more aggressive in pursuing the perpetrators behind the recent series of ERIs. PLTGen Nartatez said that the PNP shall provide the necessary support to the Abra-PPO to curb the incidence of violence in the province.

Following the special meeting, Mayor Magalong spoke to local candidates vying for positions in the Municipal and Provincial governments. In attendance were candidates for Gubernatorial, Vice-Gubernatorial, Board Member, Mayoral, Vice-Mayoral, and Sanggunian posts from the 27 municipalities of Abra.

Magalong appealed to the candidates for a “zero-tolerance approach” to all forms of violence throughout the election period. “It’s about time we say, ‘Stop, stop, stop.’ Otherwise, it’s our young people who will suffer. […] It’s time to change our old ways. Together, we can achieve a peaceful, progressive, and better future—but it requires unity, solidarity, and most of all, commitment from each and every one of us,” he said.

Representatives from civil society organizations, including the Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance (CCAGG), the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), and the Abra Ministerial Association (AMA) were also present to advocate for the peaceful conduct of elections.

DILG-CAR RD San Jose, who serves as the Head Secretariat of the CRPOC, expressed her appreciation to the local candidates for their swift response and expressing their commitment to promote peace in the province. She emphasized that the DILG-CAR shall continue to support initiatives and programs of the CRPOC to maintain public safety and peace, especially in the lead-up to the elections.

“Our efforts in the government should be complemented by a whole-of-society approach. We need to work together to uphold the integrity of the elections and most importantly, maintain a peaceful environment for our voters,” the DILG-CAR chief said.

The meeting culminated in a Covenant Signing where the members of the CRPOC and the political aspirants signed the agreement to signify their individual commitment to upholding the values of a peaceful, honest, and safe election while emphasizing their promise to refrain from violence and to respect the democratic process.

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(Fernando Pre/DILG-CAR)