Lakas, opposition sign pact for peaceful polls

The administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and the political opposition have signed a pact for the conduct of clean, honest and peaceful elections on May 10.

Speaker Jose de Venecia, president of Lakas-CMD which is the dominant party in the administration coalition led by President Arroyo, and Sen. Gregorio Honasan were the principal signatories to the agreement.

At the same time, Honasan denied he has abandoned the opposition, saying he entered into the agreement as national chairman and president of the party-list group Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc. (PGBI).

"Lakas-CMD and PGBI shall bind themselves to actively promote efforts to enhance programs and policies for national unity, peace, reconciliation and development to achieve long-term political stability and economic growth," read part of the agreement.

Honasan, also chief security officer of presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. of Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), rejected allegations that the agreement was a form of political partisanship.

"I will continue to campaign for the opposition," he said.

"This is an expression of active support for a peaceful, enlightened, clean and cre-dible elections. This is for the healing and for the eradication of wounds. It is in our best interest to put this (election) under close scrutiny."

Honasan said the agreement will check any attempt of the administration to cheat in the national and local elections on Monday.

"(The agreement) was designed to lay to rest the do-minant feeling now which is fear and mutual suspicion that might lead to projections that there will be post-election violence," he said.

"If the results of the polls are not credible or acceptable, this country would be ungovernable. The integrity of the ballot is paramount, regardless of who is proclaimed winner in the May 10 elections."

Honasan said he denounced attempts, especially by the media, to picture the agreement as a political realignment.

"We have even the unqualified support of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting," he said.

"Our primary concern is the elections. It supersedes everything else. We should be able to rise above our partisanships. Beyond this, we should end up more united. We support multilateral efforts for poll watching," Honasan added.

De Venecia said Lakas and PGBI are guided by the principle of free, credible and honest elections, driven by the goal to reform the country’s economy and politics.

"This formal coalition calls for mutual assistance and cooperation in ensuring a transparent, credible and peaceful elections," he said. "This is to dispel fears of post-election destabilization."

De Venecia said the agreement would prepare the ground for an eventual "government of national unity" and help dispel mounting pre-election tension.

"This representation confirms that no concessions were asked and no concessions were given," he said.

Witnessing the agreement’s signing were Lakas executive director Joey Rufino, Sonny delos Reyes of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ernesto Ordoñez.