BOAC, Marinduque — This province is considered the most smallest and peaceful in the country, but people here are very alive in participating in electoral processes that is why the Philippine national Police (PNP) and Commission on Election (Comelec) conducted a unity walk among candidates and the community. Province’s PNP Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Edwin Capanza and Comelec provincial election supervisor decided to pursue the activity to ensure that the coming mid-term election on May 2013 should be fair, honest and peaceful. This move also a call from various sectors and the diocese led by Msgr. Ramon Magdurulan who led in a peaceful prayer rally following a unity walk around the main thorough fare of this town. (Danny J. Estacio)

PEACE COVENANT

CANDABA, Pampanga — Various local candidates from different parties and positions in this town yesterday signed a peace covenant in a simple ceremonies held at the Poblacion Parish Church here. The peace pact among the local candidates here was coordinated by the police authorities in cooperation with the Commission of Elections (Comelec) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). This peace covenant aims to ensure the conduct of safe, honest and peaceful elections. Among the participating candidates are Liberal Party mayoralty bet Rene Maglanque, Nacionalista Party standard bearer Reynaldo Sagum, Kambilan Party candidate Patrick Gerard Pelayo and independent candidate Boy Baylon. (Franco G. Regala)

OATH-TAKING

CAMP GENERAL VICENTE LIM, Laguna — A total of 351 newly promoted Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel took their oath during oath-taking and pinning of ranks ceremony held at this camp last Tuesday. Supt. Erwin Obal, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon)  police spokesperson said a total of eleven Commissioned Officers (PCOs) and three hundred forty Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCOs) policemen assigned at the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4-A were promoted as part of the CY-2012 regular promotion program. Chief Supt. Benito Estipona, PRO 4-A director said number of personnel promoted reflects the rise of “proficiency and professional aptitude" in the CALABARZON police force. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

COMELEC INFORMATION

RIZAL PROVINCE — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) here has started its information campaign to familiarize and remind all concerned about the existing election laws in the country during this election period. This came as the Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO) has tied up with the Comelec for the conduct of briefing seminars for police investigators. The office of RPPO director, Sr. Supt. Rolando Anduyan said the first batch of seminar participants were 60 police investigators and patrol personnel from all the police stations in the province. (Nel B. Andrade)

D.S.W.D. ASSISTANCE

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union  — The Region 1’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assisted at least 136 victims of human trafficking last 2012, according to Director Marcelo Nicomedes G. Castillo.

Castillo told these victims of human trafficking were assessed for possible package of services such as provision of skills training; economic assistance for livelihood; and legal assistance through the agency’s Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP). (Freddie G. Lazaro)