TAGUM CITY — Positive campaigning is way of preventing conflict among politicians, Davao del Norte Provincial Police Office (DNPPO) director, Police Colonel (PCol) Alexander R. Serrano Jr. pushed this advocacy as a proactive means of securing May 12 national and local elections and ensuring its peaceful and orderly conduct.
As guest of the Year 2025 first episode of Kapihan sa DavNor, PCol. Serrano described positive campaigning as a way of leaving behind the traditional “mudslinging” which he said would cause friction and conflict, eventually leading to heated interaction among political parties, their candidates and followers.
“Walaon na nato tong, traditional politician (let’s get rid of the traditional politicians), daut diri, daut dito (mudslinging here and there). It can cause friction between parties. Mas maayo positive campaigning lang ta (It’s good that we do only positive campaigning). It is for the people to choose you or not,” he said.
During the same episode of the Kapihan sa DavNor, Comelec DavNor-information officer-designate and election supervisor, Atty. Norberto Sinsona said the candidates had already signed during the filing of candidacy period in October 2024, a pledge to abide by the rules of the Comelec.
“Dapat ang mga kandito i-promote lang nila ang kanilang sarili (the candidates should only promote themselves) instead of destroying other candidates. Maka-follow gyud dapat ang mga kandito sa atong mga rules (the candidates should be able to abide by our rules); dapat sundon pud nila ang ilang gipermahan (they should also follow what they had signed),” Atty. Sinsona said during the Kapihan sa DavNor.
Meanwhile, Serrano revealed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) was checking the political candidates who had filed their certificate of candidacy whether they had any threat and whether they were involved in any illegal activity.
“….para mabantayan ug matutukan ning kandidato nga midagan. So far, wala tay nakita nga nasa threat (.. so we can guard them and keep eye on them. So far, no one is under threat),” he said.
Serrano also noted that no private media practitioner in Davao del Norte is under threat due to certain political conflict.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) forged a collaboration in 2023 with the police and the military, to ensure the safety and security of media practitioners. PIA DAVAO
