Mandaue City candidates sign pledge of integrity for peaceful midterm elections

Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing arrives at the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) for the Interfaith Prayer and signing of the Peace Covenant between political parties. CDN Digital | photo by Rosalie Abatayo

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — Local candidates from contesting parties in Mandaue City signed a peace covenant with the city police, Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other law enforcement agencies for a peaceful and orderly May 2019 midterm polls.

The candidates signed the Pledge of Integrity or the peace covenant at the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) on Monday morning, February 4, 2019.

The covenant signing was attended by Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing and sixth district Congressman Jonas Cortes and some of the members of their respective slates. Also present were officials from the Comelec, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd) in Mandaue City, and National Police Commission (Napolcom).

Quisumbing and Cortes, who used to be political allies, are vying in the mayoral race here.

Both camps committed to abide by the integrity pledged which they also recited before City Election Officer, Lawyer Anna Fleur Gujilde.

“Integrity is personal. I’m here today because I want to show that I pledge to uphold  integrity in my actions during the elections,” Quisumbing said.

Cortes also said that ensuring a peaceful elections is necessary to make sure that the delivery of services, even after the elections, will be seamless.

“We are all leaders. Kami, magpapili mi and para nako leadership is not about the next election. It is about the next generation mao na siya nga gikinahanglan gyod ang kalinaw kay ang malinawn nga election maoy yawe sa malambuon nga dakbayan,” Cortes said.

Superintendent Julian Entoma, director of the MCPO, also warned the candidates that guns and goons cannot make them win.

“Here in Mandaue City, we are very much thankful that our candidates here are very professional. Ang ato gyod nga pangarap sa Mandaue nga peaceful ang atong election karong 2019,” Entoma said during the signing of the peace covenant.

Mandaue City has been placed under the yellow category of the Comelec’s Election Watchlist Areas (EWAs). The yellow category pertains to areas with intense political rivalries.

Incumbent Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna is the running mate of Quisumbing while incumbent 6th District Board Member Glenn Bercede is running alongside Cortes. /bjo