Local bets sign covenant for HOPE

CEBU, Philippines - Local candidates from the different political parties yesterday signed a covenant to ensure an honest, orderly and peaceful elections or HOPE.

By signing the covenant, close to 20 of them solemnly swore to abide by an orderly, peaceful and credible elections.

The covenant signing was held at the headquarters of the Cebu City Police Office yesterday afternoon. The activity followed the ecumenical prayer for HOPE also held by the CCPO at their camp last Wednesday.

Marchel Sarno, Cebu City election officer for the north district and Edwin Cadungog, the election officer for the south attended the activity yesterday to give their messages to the local candidates.

Among those who attended and signed the covenant yesterday were congressional aspirants in the city’s north district Rachel “Cutie” del Mar of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan, Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann delos Santos of Kugi Uswag Sugbo, former Magdalo soldier Francisco Ashley Acedillo, and independent bets Juan Arrenasa and Florencio Villarin.

Del Mar, daughter of outgoing north district Rep. Raul del Mar, however, did not stay for the program that started almost 3 p.m. She came few minutes before the program started and only signed the covenant and shook hands with some fellow candidates including Acedillo, before leaving.

Delos Santos also came minutes after Del Mar left. Shortly before the one-hour program ended, she also left after having her brief speech, expressing her “101 percent support” for HOPE.

Edgar Abadiano, running as an independent, was the only congressional aspirant in the south district, who attended yesterday.

Mayoralty candidate Alvin Garcia of Kusug was the first to arrive and also left immediately after signing the covenant.

Mayoralty candidates Jonathan Guardo, also of Kusug, and independent fellow mayoralty bet Rudolfo “Rudy” Laconza also attended and signed the covenant yesterday.

Meanwhile, vice mayoralty candidates Rodolfo Cabrera of Kusug, Rico Palcuto and Crescente Busallas, both of Independent Party and Jovencio Talite, Jr. of the Philippine Green Republican Party, also expressed their support and signed the covenant.

Also in attendance were Danilo Fernan and Paul Melendrez, both running for councilors in the north district under Kusug and Raul del Rosario, Danny Lim, and Ann Marie Palomo in the south, also under Kusug.

Comendador, who welcome the candidates, said that all those candidates who left already before the program started said that they had more important matters to attend to that was why they could not attend the program.

The candidates who signed the covenant automatically vowed firstly to commit to an honest, orderly and peaceful election in accordance with the Comelec laws, rules and regulations.

Secondly, they vowed to stand and commit themselves “not to perform acts inimical to public interest such as the use of threats and violence against contending candidates of his or her followers; resorting to immoral vote-buying activities; and cheating with the use of government resources and taking undue advantage over the candidates.”

“We promise to strictly observe and obey this covenant, take responsibility on the illegal acts of our followers and to accept whoever will be the choice of our constituents, setting aside our pride and our self interest,” the candidates pledged.

All candidates expressed their support for the covenant, though Cabrera raised an issue of some “harassment” to them that he asked the police to look into.

Apart from their campaign posters being removed in Barangay San Nicolas, he said that councilorial bet Joy Caballes, was driving home when she was sideswiped by a police car a few days before the election period for local candidates in March 26.

Comendador said that these matters should be directed to the Comelec.

The CCPO director, in his welcome message, said that the CCPO decided at first not to pursue the activity since Cebu City is not violent and disorderly like the other areas in the country.

“This is not just a compliance of the directive from the national headquarters, but we did this activity as a gesture that we are very serious for HOPE,” Comendador said.

Sarno also reminded the contending parties to concede in an easy way if they lose.

“This is part of the game…Naa g’yuy winner. Ang mapildi will concede in an easy way and will not use force, intimidation, unlawful acts or any harm against their opponents,” he added. — Niña G. Sumacot (THE FREEMAN)