Maguindanao provinces' gubernatorial bets sign peace covenant for Eleksyon 2025

Several gubernatorial candidates from Maguindanao provinces on Tuesday signed a peace covenant to affirm their commitment to the safe and peaceful conduct of Eleksyon 2025.

Among the signatories of the peace covenant are Suharto "Teng" Mangudadatu and Datu Tucao Mastura, who are both running for governor in Maguindanao del Norte; and Bai Mariam Sangki Mangudadatu and Ali Midtimbang, who are both candidates for Maguindanao del Sur governor.

"Palagay ko trust (It think it's trust)," Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said when asked what the signing achieved for the upcoming polls.

"Tiwala nang bawat isa sa bawat isa. Sa institusyon. Sa Comelec. Sa AFP. Sa PNP. Sa ibang stakeholders. At tiwala rin na maiiwasan ang ibang kaguluhan, fake news, misinformation at disinformation," Garcia said.

(The trust of the candidates to other candidates, to the institution, to Comelec, to AFP, PNP, and other stakeholders. It also earned trust that violence, fake news, misinformation, and disinformation can be avoided for the elections.)

In signing the peace covenant, the gubernatorial bets pledged to dedicate their campaigns, actions, and leadership to the promotion of peace and the prevention of violence within communities. They also vowed to conduct their campaigns with dignity, respect, and in a spirit of unity.

They also committed to reject any form of violence, threats, or intimidation in political actions, and to actively encourage their supporters to uphold these values.

In January, the Comelec placed at least 38 areas of concern under the "red" category ahead of the 2025 national and local elections. Among these sites is the Datu Piang town in Maguindanao del Sur.

Comelec Resolution 11067 states that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shall classify all areas in the country under four categories: green, yellow, orange, and red.

Areas under the green category are areas with no security concerns, or are relatively peaceful and orderly for the conduct of elections.

Yellow areas have reported suspected election-related incidents in the past two polls, provided there was no participation of domestic terror groups. These areas were previously declared under Comelec control and with a reported possible presence of armed groups and intense political rivalries.

Orange areas have a combination of two or more factors under the yellow category; and have serious armed threats posed by communist terror groups (CTGs) or other threat groups.

Meanwhile, red areas meet the parameters for areas under the yellow category and have serious threats posed by CTGs or other threat groups. Security forces will focus on monitoring these areas with the possibility for violence and intense political fights among local candidates. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

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