Pasay bets sign peace pact

MANILA, Philippines - Pasay City candidates have signed a peace covenant to ensure a clean, orderly and peaceful election this May.

The signing, held recently at the Shrine of Saint Therese in Villamor Air Base, was witnessed by representatives of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Department of Education, local police, local government officials and the poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad and all the candidates under his ticket joined the signing of the peace pact, dubbed the Covenant of Hope.

Among the signatories to the covenant are Rep. Jose Antonio Roxas, vice mayoral candidate Greg Alcera and city councilor candidates Lexter Ibay, Charlie Chavez, Florencio Mateo, Abet Alvina, Let Let Landagan, Pinky Lyn Francisco, Edith Vergel de Dios, Jim Baliad, Janet Protacio, Ileana Ibay, Manny Cinco and Monty Veluz.

“The signing of the peace covenant will assure our constituents that Pasay City will have an honest and peaceful election this May,” Trinidad said.

The candidates who joined the peace pact agreed neither to bribe voters with money, directly or indirectly, nor to intimidate them through violence or threat.

They also agreed to abide by Comelec rules and regulations against carrying firearms and deadly weapons, and hiring bodyguards more than the allowed limit.

The signatories to the covenant also pledged that should any of their supporters or security personnel be found violating Comelec rules, they will hold themselves legally disqualified to continue their candidacies under the principle “the act of the subordinate is the act of the principal.’”

Trinidad said candidates who joined the peace covenant had also agreed to a friendly rivalry and to observe the rules and regulations on prohibited propaganda such as the putting up of posters, billboards, streamers and other materials outside the Comelec poster areas.

“We should restrain ourselves from wanton posting of campaign materials. It has been our experience that the city government has to shell out additional money to clean up the campaign materials after election,” Trinidad said.  – Rhodina Villanueva