A total of 51 local candidates for various elective positions in this province on Thursday joined a simultaneous unity walk and signing of a peace covenant for Secure, Accurate, Free, and Fair Elections (S.A.F.E.).

The unity walk started at 7 a.m. with an ecumenical prayer led by Fr. Efren Basco at Camp Alejo Santos here, followed by a covenant signing at the KB Gymnasium.

Provincial-level candidates simultaneously delivered the declaration of integrity pledge administered by Fr. Basco.

The activity was spearheaded by the Bulacan Police Provincial Office (PPO) headed by acting provincial director Col. Rommel Ochave, in coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headed by Bulacan provincial election supervisor Lawyer Rene Cruz Jr.

Other attendees were officials and personnel of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine Army (PA), and representatives from religious groups, academe, and other non-government organizations.

Cruz encouraged all the candidates to do their part in attaining honest and fair elections on May 9.

Running for top positions in the province are reelectionist Governor Daniel Fernando and his running-mate vice gubernatorial candidate Alex Castro of the National Unity Party (NUP), and incumbent Vice Governor Willy Alvarado and his tandem, former congressman Joselito Mendoza of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Darwin David, DILG provincial director, said the province of Bulacan had a peaceful and honest election in the last nine years.

For his part, Ochave said the Bulacan police remains pro-active and supportive of the endeavor to achieve S.A.F.E. (PNA)