PNP chief asks voters to be optimistic

CEBU, Philippines - Philippine National Police chief Jesus Versoza yesterday urged the people to refrain from making speculations and instead be optimistic of next month’s national and local elections.

“I hope that we’ll be optimistic. We need your cooperation and your belief that we can hold. Let us not look for speculations, instead work out by giving our best,” Vesoza said in his brief speech yesterday.

Versoza joined other top officials of different law enforcement agencies and religious sectors of the country yesterday for the early morning activity called the covenant run for HOPE, which stands for “Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections.”

The covenant run participated in by more than 3,000 participants was initiated by the Police Regional Office-7 and the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines together with the Commission on Elections and the religious sector.

Versoza said that as main implementers of the elections regulation, they want to reach out to different sectors to show their best for HOPE.

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who did not participate in the run but was present during the short program, also appealed to the people present to avoid things that will threaten the security of the elections.

Shortly before the covenant signing, the officials released around 10 white doves which symbolizes “new hopes and new possibilities of a peaceful election on May.”

Runners who joined the activity started at 4:30 a.m. from four different assembly points that include the Capitol grounds, Fuente Osmeña Rotunda, PRO-7 and Cebu City Police Office headquarters.

The participants converged at the Archbishop’s Palace where the fun run started towards the Cebu International Convention Center.

At the CICC, Versoza led the forum with top officials and personnel of PROs 6, 7, and 8 and discussed their security measures for the upcoming elections.

Versoza said that their main goal is to put up Police Action Centers in several polling places in the country. For now, he added, they are waiting for the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and secure their delivery to the different areas of the country.

The PNP top official stressed that they are determined for peaceful and orderly elections in May, adding they are inviting cause-oriented groups to participate in their security preparations.    (FREEMAN NEWS)