Bacolod City – The Joint Provincial Security Coordinating Center is spearheading a peace covenant signing among provincial candidates tomorrow February 13 at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City.
While attendance is voluntary for all candidates, Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said it is good if they will attend, to show their willingness to participate in the activities of Comelec and other stakeholders.
Invited to the peace covenant signing are those running for elected positions at the provincial level, from gubernatorial to board member aspirants, as well as aspiring members of the House of Representatives.
The Comelec, in partnership with the police and Philippine Army, have also started to initiate peace covenant signing among candidates at the city and municipal level, more than a month before the start of campaign period for local candidates which is on March 28.
By signing the covenant, the candidates pledged to uphold and strictly follow Comelec regulations, campaign fairly, present their platforms, avoid personal attacks, ensure clean and transparent elections by rejecting vote-buying, fraud, and intimidation, and accept the election results with integrity and full respect for the people’s decision.
During the weekend, re-electionist Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo of Moises Padilla, led candidates for a unity walk and signing of a peace covenant in Moises Padilla. She was joined by her husband, Felix Matias Segundo Feria Yulo III, her vice mayoralty candidate and her full slate of councilor aspirants.
Similar peace covenant signings were also held earlier in Valladolid and E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental.
The PJSCC, composed of the Comelec, Philippine Army, Coast Guard, and PNP, will also hold as meeting on February 18 to thresh out differences in the declaration of election areas of concern in Negros Occidental.
The Comelec central office reported that there are five election areas of concern so far in Negros Occidental, while the PNP has declared none.
Ananoria said JPSCC is expected to come up with a common assessment on election hotspots, if there are any, in the province. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)