PEACEFUL ELECTIONS. Visayas Command chief Lt. Gen. Robert Dauz hands over a plaque of appreciation to Mario Montejo, assistant regional director of the DPWH-7 during the Stakeholders' Recognition in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City on Wednesday (Feb. 9, 2022). Dauz assured the electorates in the Visayas of the military's commitment to work closely with the Comelec and the PNP in ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible May 9 national and local elections. (Screengrab from Viscom PIO video) CEBU CITY - The Visayas Command (Viscom) on Wednesday said the military will seek the commitment of local chief executives in avoiding violence during the election period. Lt. Gen. Robert Dauz, Viscom commander, said they will partner with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in conducting activities that will culminate in candidates' signing of a covenant to "shun away violence". During the Stakeholder's Recognition activity in relation to the 86th founding anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Dauz said the primary objective of the military in the forthcoming elections is to assure that the people can exercise their right to vote and that election day would be peaceful. "We are not partisan and apolitical. We don't care who will win and who will lose. Our mandate is to have a peaceful election," he said. Dauz urged local chief executives to help the military, police and the Comelec perform their respective mandate with regard to the May 9 local and national elections. The Viscom chief said before this weekend, the military in the Visayas will further intensify security efforts to assist the Comelec in ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections. Viscom oversees military operations through line units such as the Joint Task Force (JTF) Storm and JTF Spear that will be deployed to assist the PNP in manning Comelec checkpoints, provide security to polling and canvassing centers, and perform other election-related duties. Dauz said the 3rd Infantry Battalion (3IB) is augmenting the existing troops which can be deployed for the upcoming election, following reports on the continued presence of private armed groups on the island. He said the 3IB is tasked to hunt down and dismantle private armed groups to prevent them from spreading fear and intimidation to the people. Dauz, during the event, gave recognition to the military's partners in its peacekeeping efforts, including Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz, a former Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army combatant who turned into a government ally in achieving peace through various programs. He also recognized five mayors - Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan of La Castellana, Negros Occidental; Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental; Daisy Abuyabor Lleve of Mahaplag, Leyte; Jose Ivan Dayan Agda of Borongan City, Eastern Samar; and Theodorico Abbang Mabag of Pinabacdao, Samar - for working with the AFP in addressing the causes of communist armed conflict in their respective locality. Also cited were the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Central Visayas for the construction of Camp Lapu-Lapu facilities; Colegio dela Inmaculada Concepcion-Cebu Alumni Batch 1991 for the "Share a Book, Inspire a Life" book donation and learning hub project for children in far-flung areas; and the Five Loaves and Two Fish-Cebu group for the "Kapwa Ko Sagot Ko" program distributing "bags of hope" to marginalized families in Cebu. Other individuals who received recognition from Viscom were Arnold Bustamante, president of the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists, for his support to the command's information dissemination efforts; Theresa Mae Conson, founder of Smarties Apparel for supporting the Heroes Adventure Challenge; and Margie Gadian, consultant for Peace, Order and Public Safety of Antique province. "These successes that we have gained last year have remarkably improved the situation of our people in the area, especially in the conflict-stricken communities. That is why there are lots of things to be thankful for this year and today. We are having this stakeholders' recognition week with the theme 'Pasasalamat 2021: A day of Recognition a Lifetime of Gratitude'," Dauz said in his speech. (PNA) }