Quezon City candidates sign peace covenant

MANILA, Philippines - Candidates for congressman, mayor and vice mayor in Quezon City yesterday signed a covenant of peace to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections at the Sulu Hotel, a spitting distance from the city hall yesterday.

The covenant signing, an initiative credited to Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego, was graced by incumbent and former city officials and newbies in local politics, ranking police and military officials, representatives of the Commission on Elections and election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Responsible Voting (PPCRV). “Your police, urge each one of you candidates to level the playing field by strictly adhering to our election laws to attain honest, orderly and peaceful elections even as we commit ourselves to continue to remain apolitical in our common bid or come up with a credible election,” said San Diego.

The candidates were led by host Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr., who is running for congressman in the city’s fourth district, and his daughter, neophyte Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, who is gunning for the vice mayor’s post. Of the three candidates for congressman in the first district, only newcomer and advocate of entrepreneurism Vivienne Tan was present. Present for the second district were Jose Christopher Belmonte, Winston Castelo, Walter Jimenez, Dante Liban, Ismael “Chuck” Mathay III, Norma Bueva and Dionisio Rellosa.

For the third district were Jorge John Banal Jr., Pedrito Espin and Franz Pumaren. Matias Defensor sent a representative. Aside from the mayor, only Don de Castro and Albert Hans Palacios were present for the fourth congressional district.

Of the nine mayoralty bets, only seven attended including Vice Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista, Henry Samonte, John Charles Chang, Mary Ann Susano, former city mayor Ismael Mathay Jr., Engracio Icasiano and Roberto Sombillo. Conspicuously absent was vice mayoral candidate, former presidential spokesman Michael “Mike” Defensor.

For vice mayor, also present were candidates Janet Malaya, Florliza Pusing, Rolando Jota, and Allan Bantillo. Aiko Melendez was not seen anywhere in the venue.

The Comelec was represented by NCR director, lawyer Michael Dioneda and Quezon City election officer, lawyer Ronald Allan Sindo, also chairman of the joint Security Control Center while Bro. Johnny Cardenas represented the PPCRV.

PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano, read a prepared speech in behalf of PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa. Also present at the signing were Metro Manila police chief Director Roberto “Boysie” Rosales and AFP NCR Command chief Major General Reynaldo Mapagu.