COTABATO CITY, Philippines โ In a rare gesture of unity in the historically restive province of Lanao del Sur, political candidates pledged over the Quran on Tuesday to uphold election laws and renounce violence in the lead-up to the May 2025 Philippine midterm elections.
The symbolic commitment took place during a dialogue at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, the provincial capital, where candidates and local leaders gathered under the watch of military and religious authorities.
‘Peaceful and Honest Elections’
Army Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, who heads the Western Mindanao Command, described the event as a hopeful sign for a peaceful electoral season in a region long marred by political tension and clan rivalries.
โWe have to unite in ensuring peaceful and honest elections in May 2025 in Lanao del Sur and in its capital, Marawi City,โ Gen. Nafarrete said in a press briefing on Thursday.
Lanao del Sur, part of the autonomous Bangsamoro region in the southern Philippines, has seen periods of political violence and security challenges in past elections. But Tuesdayโs gathering brought together an unusually broad coalition: provincial officials, municipal mayors, military commanders, police officers, and representatives from both Islamic and Christian communities.
Order Across 39 Towns
The provinceโs governor, Mamintal Adiong, Jr., who leads the regional political group Sebisyong Inklusibo, Alyansang Progresibo (Inclusive Service, Progressive Alliance or SIAP), said his administration would do its part to maintain order across all 39 towns of Lanao del Sur and Marawi City.
To close the dialogue, Gen. Nafarrete, Governor Adiong, and senior police and military officials signed a peace covenant printed on tarpaulin, publicly affirming their commitment to a fair and secure electoral process.
SIAP officials have also urged their supporters to refrain from engaging in online mudslinging and to avoid provocative social media content targeting rival candidatesโan effort to curb the digital toxicity that has increasingly characterized Philippine elections in recent years.
The pledges come amid a broader campaign by the Commission on Elections and civil society groups to instill a culture of peace and democratic accountability in the Bangsamoro regionโa region where faith, politics, and history often collide.
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