Espino assures support for CHAMP, SAFE
LINGAYEN–“I will always remain faithful to the norms of ethical conduct and will actively support the advocacy of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) for clean, honest, accountable, meaningful and peaceful elections (CHAMP) and the campaign for Secured and Fair Elections (SAFE) of the Philippine National Police.”
This was the statement of Gov. Amado Espino, Jr. in his letter addressed to Provincial Election Supervisor Marino Sales and Fr. Allan Morris Abuan, PPCRV chairperson for Pangasinan.
“For the record, these are the same guideposts that I have lived by in working for clean and peaceful elections, ever since I served as PNP Pangasinan Director, as PNP Region I Director, as a congressman, and now as governor of this province,” Espino stressed.
In the same letter, Espino also expressed regrets that he could not take part in the peace covenant signing held at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Dagupan City last March 25 because “some candidates and officials who are supposed to promote CHAMP and SAFE elections, are the same people who are violating the core values and principles upon which these advocacies stand.”
“Our participation in the Peace Covenant Signing would only give the wrong signal that we are condoning their dirty tricks,” Espino said.
Then the governor pointed out how the “majority of the local chief executives in Pangasinan and the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan have signed a manifesto calling for a change in the PNP provincial leadership.”
In their manifesto, the SP members and mayors accused Sr. Supt. Marlou Chan, PNP OIC-provincial director, of “evident bias in favor of some candidates and has arbitrarily and unilaterally been replacing the chiefs of police in those localities whose political leaders are perceived to be against his (Chan’s) favored candidates, without the required consultation with the concerned local chief executives in violation of the prohibitions imposed by the COMELE during the election period.”
“You are also aware of the various acts of character-assassination, well-orchestrated political demolition jobs, false and fabricated accusations and harassment cases filed against this representation by our political opponent,” the governor wrote.
“Thus, we are afraid that the Peace Covenant Signing would only serve to legitimize the violations and abuses of some PNP officials and deceitful candidates and provide them with the perfect cover-up for their devious schemes,” the governor explained.
Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza, the LP official candidate for governor, also failed to attend the covenant signing. No reason for his absence was relayed to the organizers.
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