President Rodrigo Duterte again promised a peaceful and violence-free election under his administration.

“It is my commitment to the nation that the elections will be peaceful and free from violence, intimidation of voters. Wag ninyo gawin iyan because I would still be here to oversee the elections,” Duterte said in his pre-recorded Talk to the People aired on Monday.

He earlier said he will not allow any election-related violence and warned against violent electioneering during the remaining months of his administration.

“Do not do it kasi I will see to it na itong eleksyon na ito ay malinis at walang dayaan, walang patayan sa panahon ko. Maghanap kayo ng ibang presidente. Huwag ninyong gawin sa akin kasi pupuntahan talaga kita (Do not do it because I will see to it that this election is clean and without fraud. No killings during my time. Don’t do it to me because I will come for you),” he said, noting politicians “should never use violence to force the people to elect them.”

Duterte also pledged to protect the sanctity of every Filipino’s vote.

“I have a sacred oath, and that sacred oath is not only for friends or enemies but for all Filipinos. Kaya pagdating sa election, tingin ko tabla lahat (That’s why when it comes to the election, everything should be even),” he said

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said they have already assured the political neutrality of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Per a DILG memorandum dated March 24, police officers are not allowed to act as bodyguards of political candidates and will be deployed in election hotspots for peacekeeping.

The PNP earlier identified around 100 municipalities and 14 cities nationwide as red-coded hotspots for the May 9 elections.

Photo Credit: Philippine Star