Tacloban City bets sign peace covenant

MANILA, Philippines - Candidates in the local elections in Tacloban City on Thursday pledged to work for peaceful and fair elections in May.

The candidates led by incumbent Mayor Alfred Romualdez of the Nacionalista Parcy and An Waray party-list Rep. Florencio Noel, who are both running in the mayoralty race, made the pledge as they signed a peace covenant at the Sto. Niño Church.

The event was supervised by the Commission on Election (Comelec) headed by City Election Officer Attorney Rosemarie Ann Polistico.

A mass was officiated by the five parish priests of Sto. Niño church before the covenant signing.

“We will abide to what was stated in the covenant,” Noel said.

Polistico said she is confident that this coming election would be peaceful again, hoping that candidates would obey election the rules including the posting of their campaign materials.

“We have designated places where they can put their tarpaulins and other campaign paraphernalia, if they violate this, they must pay a corresponding amount,” Polistico said.

The peace covenant was signed as the campaign period for the local elections starts on March 29.