Sta. Fe bets to sign peace covenant

CEBU, Philippines - The police in the town of Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island initiated a peace covenant signing between rival parties to ensure an orderly election next month.

Mayor Jennifer Ilustrisimo said they are yet to finalize the signing which is tentatively scheduled next week.

PO3 Marino Cajes of Sta. Fe police believes the town can be removed from the Election Watchlist of Areas (EWAS) as there was no election-related incident reported or sightings of armed men in the area.

Cajes said, compared to the last election, Sta. Fe’s peace and order now is much better.

Sta. Fe belongs to the fourth district of Cebu which is in the EWAS of the Commission on Election because of intense political rivalries.

But Mayor Ilustrisimo said they continue to be vigilant because of their experience in the 2007 elections when her father-in-law, former mayor Rogelio “Docdoc” Ilustrisimo Sr., was shot dead in front of the Comelec Office within the compound of the Provincial Capitol.

He went to Comelec to attend a hearing.

Mayor Ilustrisimo lauded the efforts of the PNP in Sta. Fe for strengthening Comelec checkpoints and deploying more of their personnel in the field.

Cajes said they will make sure all areas in their jurisdiction are monitored and so far, they do not see the need to deploy an augmentation team to the town’s police force. —/MBG (FREEMAN)