By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .
THE Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) yesterday strongly denied accusations that the city police and Camp Alagar were favoring the candidacy of Mayor Oscar Moreno.
In a statement furnished to this paper by Cocpo spokesman Supt. Mardy Hortillosa II, the police here maintained that it has always remained apolitical contrary to accusations.
The statement made by city police director Senior Supt. Nelson Aganon came after the police here was criticized for asking Mayor Moreno to deliver a welcome speech during the “Unity Walk” that culminated at Kiosko Kagawasan in Divisoria at the start of the election period two Sundays ago.
Aganon said the police has noted that Cocpo and Camp Alagar were accused of favoritism and of being one-sided in a radio program that tackled political matters.
He said the Cagayan de Oro police remains apolitical and “neutral”, and “the single most important role of the police during elections is to become impartial and non-partisan, and to focus all efforts in ensuring the peaceful and orderly conduct of elections.”
Aganon said the program for the “Unity Walk, Interfaith Prayer Rally and Peace Covenant Signing” for the mid-term elections, was based on Camp Crame’s template.
Based on Camp Crame’s template, Aganon said, the “welcome remarks” was to be delivered by incumbent local chief executives. That, he said, should not be seen as giving certain candidates advantage over other politicians.
He said the city police did not have an intention to either favor or give preference to any personality since the police remains apolitical at all times and avoids participating in any partisan political activity during elections.
The “Unity Walk,” he said, was a non-partisan government program aimed at promoting unity despite the elections, and to make politicians commit to peaceful and orderly elections.
Aganon said similar “Unity Walks” were simultaneously held in other parts of the country, and organizers asked local chief executives to deliver welcome speeches based on the format set by Camp Crame.
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