NEWS RELEASE|| 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

BUTUAN CITY, February 8, 2025 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 (𝗣𝗡𝗣) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸, 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲, “𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒂 𝑩𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏, 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒔𝒂 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒐 2025” 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸, 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

The activity began at 4:00 a.m. with an energizing Zumba Dance at the Agusan del Norte Provincial Capitol Covered Court. At 5:00 a.m., the attendees proceeded with the Unity Walk towards Guingona Park, where they engaged in prayers, messages, candle lighting, and the manifesto signing.

The event saw the participation of key personnel from the Department of Education (DepEd), PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), religious leaders, political candidates, and advocacy support group leaders.

The event commenced with the mass singing of the Philippine National Anthem, followed by an invocation led by Rev. Fr. PMAJ Rogen L. Leyson, Regional Pastoral Officer of PRO13.

In his welcome remarks, PCOL Rommel D. Villamor, City Director of the Butuan City Police Office (BCPO), underscored the importance of unity in securing fair and peaceful elections. “We are here for a purpose, united in our shared desire for a secure and fair local and national elections,” he stated. “By signing this covenant, we are not just agreeing to follow election laws and regulations, we are also promising to prioritize our platforms and the needs of our people and the nation.”

PBGEN Christopher N. Abrahano, Acting Regional Director of PRO13, conveyed his message through PCOL Restituto P. Lacano Jr., Deputy Regional Director for Operations. He emphasized the significance of collective efforts in ensuring the integrity of the elections. “When we stand as one for the greater good, we will become triumphant. But beyond unity, I also believe in the power of prayer. While we do our part, we also seek God’s guidance to lead us in the right direction and to protect us from harm,” he said. He encouraged all attendees to rely on each other’s strengths and for political candidates to serve as role models in upholding ethical leadership and public service.

Meanwhile, COMELEC-Caraga Regional Director Atty. Edwin O. Cadungog stressed the importance of safeguarding the credibility of the electoral process. “Protecting the integrity of the elections will redound to a free, orderly, peaceful, and credible elections, so that in the end, our elections would just be a friendly political competition, while the choice of the people of Caraga region would be respected.”

The interfaith prayer service was led by representatives from various religious groups, including Rev. Fr. PMAJ Rogen L. Leyson (Catholic), Imam Saidomar A. Tominaman (Islam), Pastor Oronito G. Abendanio (The Shepherds), Datu Ruben Mandahinog (Lumad), Pastor Pritz F. Caminero (Born Again), and Bishop Allan P. Bacus (Free-Methodist).

Following the solemn prayers, participants lit candles as a symbol of hope and commitment to a peaceful election. The event concluded with the signing of the Manifesto of Commitment by representatives from the DepEd, PNP, AFP, COMELEC, DILG, DICT, PCG, PPCRV, NAMFREL, religious leaders, political candidates, and advocacy support groups, signifying their pledge to uphold a fair and credible electoral process.

The Unity Walk, Interfaith Prayer, and Covenant Signing reaffirm the shared dedication of Caraga’s law enforcement agencies, government bodies, religious leaders, and political candidates to fostering an environment of peace, order, and transparency in the upcoming elections.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151; 0961-737-08-73; 0977-739-44-53. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

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#prayer