THE peace covenant signing of local candidates in Lapu-Lapu City was postponed after the parish priest of the Birhen sa Regla Church failed to send the invitations.
Some local parties appeared at the church with their supporters only to be told that the covenant signing has been rescheduled to April 13.
“I thought the local parties will just come to attend the Mass and then start signing the peace covenant,” said Fr. Leonardo Cabrera, the parish priest.
Fr. Cabrera was informed by police that it is the parish priest who will initiate the activity and invite all local candidates to join.
Fr. Cabrera said he had no prior experience with peace covenant signing during the elections.
He said he was once invited to a meeting with Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the covenant signing, but he was unable to attend thinking the meeting was scheduled in the morning.
Senior Supt. Arnel Libed, acting Lapu-Lapu City police chief, said their presence is merely to support the Church’s initiative.
He said they were assigned by the Comelec to supervise the taping of the muzzles of the firearms.
“This is a religious activity and we are just here to support and implement peace and order,” Libed said.
The party of mayoral candidate Engr. Rolando Patalinjug, who’s running under the PDP-Laban banner, said it was dismayed by the postponement but will abide by Fr. Cabrera’s decision.
While Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza was present, rival mayoral candidate and businesman Efrain Pelaez skipped the event.