Manila, May 2 -- The Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) is optimistic that the May 12 national and local elections will be peaceful and orderly across the province.

APPO Director Col. Lea Rose Pena, in a media interview on Friday, expressed confidence in achieving an honest, orderly, and peaceful election (HOPE), citing the positive conduct of local candidates since their Unity Walk and Covenant Signing held on March 14 at the APPO headquarters in San Jose de Buenavista.

"So far since the Unity Walk and Covenant signing of the provincial candidates in March, the province has remained peaceful," she said.

Pena urged candidates to remain calm and not be emotional in the final stretch of the campaign.

She also assured the public tha...