Peaceful polls. Gov. Pineda enjoins barangay leaders and chiefs of police led by Sr. Supt. Albayalde to preserve peace and order in the coming elections. Photo by Bong Lacson
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “Ang importante sa akin ngayon, ang gusto kong regalo ninyo sa akin, higit pa sa boto ninyo ay yung tahimik at mapayapang halalan (What is important to me now, what I want for a gift, more than your votes, is your support for peaceful elections).”
Thus, pleaded Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here yesterday as she presided over the Peace and Order Meeting and Election Preparations with some 500 barangay captains from all over Pampanga in attendance.
It was also an occasion for Pineda to introduce newly-designated Pampanga Police OIC Senior Supt. Oscar Albayalde, a Kapampangan who hails from this capital city.
“Bayu ya pu ing provincial director. Bayit ya San Fernando. Kapampangan ya (We have a new provincial director.
He was born in San Fernando. He’s a Kapampangan),” said Pineda. “Aku pu masaya ku uling balu na ing pasikut sikut, balu no ugali reng Kapampangan, balu nakong intindyan, malalam ya pag unawa (I am happy because he knows the intricacies, he knows the character of the Kapampangans, he knows how to estimate you and he has a profound understanding).”
The governor also enjoined the barangay chairmen to support Albayalde: “At ika yu pung barangay kapitan, kabalen taya ini suportahan ye at suportahan na kayu naman (And to all of you barangay captains, this is our provincemate, you should support him and he will also support you).”
She also told the village chiefs not to listen to political rumors: “Eta mu pu manwala keng bulung-bulungan keng pulitika (Let us not give credence to rumors about politics).”
“Pakit tamu pu itang Kapampangan biyasa tang makyabe, mikakalugud tamu, misasan-metung tamu andyang panahun na ning halalan (Let us show that we Kapampangans know how to go along, that we love each other and we are one and united even during this election season),” Pineda said.
The governor also called on the barangay captains to deploy every barangay tanods to augment the police as well as keep the peace and order even as she acknowledged the huge amount needed for such an order.
“Balu ku pu kulang na kulang ing pondo yung kapitan (I know very well that you lack the needed funds)” she said. But Pineda praised the village chiefs as first responders in any incident in their respective barangays.
At that point, Pineda enjoined the mayors to commit P200,000 each as their contribution for peaceful and orderly elections.
“Yung commitment n’yo na P200,000 para sa mga COP at para maging isa ang Pampanga sa pinaka tahimik sa eleksyon (Your commitment of P200,000 for the chief of police so that Pampanga can be one of the most peaceful province in the coming elections),” said Pineda to the thunderous applause of the policemen and barangay captains.
“Malaking responsibildad ang hinaharap natin ngayong eleksyon. Kinausap ko po ang libu-libong barangay officials pinagtiyagaan ko pong makausap pati kagawad para lamang maging payapa ang halalan dito (We are facing a great responsibility in this coming elections. I called to a meeting thousands of barangay officials, I try to endure talking to everybody just so we could have peaceful elections),” the governor said.
“My appeal now is for you barangay officials not to meddle in the politics of rival factions but rather work to achieve peace in this coming election, Pineda said.
“Ang appeal ko sana po kayo pong mga barangay officials huwag kayo ang manguna doon sa init ng magkabilang partido ngayong eleksyon ang importante kayong mga kapitan kailangan mag trabaho para sa kapayapaan.”
Also present during the meeting aside from Albayalde were the 21 chiefs of police of the municipalities and cities in Pampanga, DILG Director Myrvi Apostol-Fabia, Phil. Army 7th Infantry Division Commander Col. Henry Sabare, Capitol department heads as well as mayors Marino “Boking” Morales of Mabalacat City, Jomar Hizon of Bacolor, Ric Rivera of Guagua, Mylyn P. Cayabyab of Lubao, Leonora Capule-Wong of San Simon, Romy Pecson of Magalang, Annette Balgan of Macabebe, Josefina Leoncio of Sasmuan, and Jerry Pelayo of Candaba.
