Unity Walk and Prayer Rally for SAFE 2013 set on Sunday

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
January 18, 2013

CAMP RUPERTO K. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte  –  In yet another effort to ensure a peaceful conduct of the midterm polls, the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) will spearhead an early morning unity walk in Tacloban City on Sunday, January 20, to highlight the government's campaign for a “secure and fair election” on May 13.

Top government officials to be led by Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria, Regional Director of PRO8, Commission on Elections regional director Jose Nick A. Mendros, Interior and Local Government regional director Pedro Noval, Jr. will be joined by heads of other government agencies and their employees, religious leaders, political party leaders, military, students, academe, civic groups, election watchdogs and other election stakeholders in a massive Unity Walk and Prayer Rally for SAFE 2013 in a show of full support in attaining a secure and fair elections.

“While PRO8 is currently implementing aggressive police operations targeting ‘partisan armed groups’ and loose firearms, there is a great need to seek Divine intervention, guidance and grace to ensure a ‘secure and fair’ elections’,” Soria said.

The activity will come in the heels of the successful peace covenant signing in Samar last January 13 in Calbayog City with DILG Secretary Mar Roxas presiding that garnered support from the church and other election stakeholders and signed by local candidates seeking for different congressional and local elective posts.

The top police official added that activity will be conducted to portray the significant role that will be played by the different stakeholders in the forthcoming elections as he urged the electorate to join and support the event.

Three “walk groups” will assemble in designated areas and will stride along designated routes on their way to the prayer rally to be held at the Balyuan Amphitheater.

The Unity Walk Group 1 composed of PRO8 contingent, representatives from the Commission on Elections, National Police Commission, Department of Interior and Local Government, Region 8 Administrators League, Department of Education, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Justice, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Armed Forces of the Philippines will walk from the Leyte National High School area along Lino Gonzaga Ave.

The second group composed of leaders and personnel of Leyte Police Provincial Office, Regional Training School 8, Comelec-Leyte, religious groups, academe, students, civic groups, non-government organizations and other election stakeholders will walk from the new Land Bank of the Philippines branch along Real St.

The third group comprising officers and men of the Tacloban City Police Office, Comelec-Tacloban, Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams, barangay officials, election watchdogs, other civic groups, academe and students will converge at the Leyte Lumberyard area along Rizal Ave.

Leaders of various religious groups will lead the inter-faith prayer and benediction. Other highlights of the event are the lighting of the unity candle, recitation of the Voters’ Pledge, signing of the Pledge of Commitment, and releasing of doves and white balloons to signify the united effort of all the participants towards SAFE 2013.