Thisis the peace covenant for the elections that the Mandaue candidates signed today, September 15, 2023.| Mary Rose Sagarino
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines — Hundreds of candidates for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) attended the Peace Signing Covenant on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
The candidates with authorities gathered at the National Shrine of St. Joseph to attend the unity Mass and the signing conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec-Mandaue), Mandaue City Police Office, Philippine Army, and Mandaue City Jail, and Bureau of Fire and Protection.
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1,100 candidates for BSKE in Mandaue
Comelec-Mandaue Election Officer Annafleur Gujilde said because there were over 1,100 aspirants in the city’s 27 barangays, and these might create too much crowd, only those who were running for barangay captains and SK Chairmen were invited.
The activity, she said, was to encourage them to keep the election peaceful.
“Atoang giawhag atoang mga kandidato to help nga peaceful atoang elections ug atoang mga botante dili mahadlok mogawas during election,” said Gujilde.
(We are urging our candidates to help that our election will be peaceful and our voters will not be afraid to go out and vote during the election.)
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Sign peace covenant, lead by example, bets dared
“Matud pa ni Bishop Billones nga naninguha man ta nga atoang mga kandidato to lead sa mga tao for the service of the people, karun buntaga atoang gipakita kung unsa ang angay ehemplo ngadto sa katawhan by leading an example of having a peaceful and orderly election,” said MCPO Deputy City Director for Administration and Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Franco Rudolf Oriol.
According to Bishop Billones that since we, our candidates, are working to lead the people for the service of the people, today, we will show them that we are good examples to the people by leading an example of having a peaceful and orderly election.)
Oriol said that around 500 candidates attended the activity as some brought a few of their members.
For members and candidates who were not able to participate with the signing, they can still sign a peace convenant since all the six police stations in Mandaue will organize the same activity.
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Mandaue peaceful
Despite this, Oriol said that Mandaue remains to be peaceful. It was also categorized as ‘Green status’ that means that there were no election-related incidents recorded in the city.
“So far, generally peaceful and orderly atoang gipahigayun nga mga election-related activities. Hopefully, it will continue until the end of the election day,” said Oriol.
(So far, our election-related activities that we held are generally peaceful and orderly. Hopefully, it will continue until the end of the election day.)