Signatories of candidates who attended the peace covenant. (CDN PHOTO/ JOSE SANTINO BUNACHITA)
Former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña failed to sign the peace covenant signing during a ceremony at the Bradford Church Friday afternoon.
Only four candidates from the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), wearing blue campaign shirts, were present.
Councilor Margot Osmeña, who were among those present, told reporters that her husband actually came at the scheduled time at 2:30 pm but had to leave right away.
“He thought he could just sign. He had a lot of appointments, not just sorties. Mar (Roxas) is also here. So he had to meet him. He had to push back some of his schedules,” she said.
Asked about the absence of their other candidates, Margot said she doesn’t know why they weren’t able to attend.
Aside from Margot, north district Rep. Raul Del Mar was also present together with Bonel Balingit and Danny Pacaña who are both running for city councilors.
On the other hand, almost all Team Rama councilors, wearing their green, yellow and red campaign uniforms, attended the covenant signing.
Mayor Michael Rama and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella led the group together with their bets for north and south district reps Alvin Garcia and Councilor Gerardo Carillo.
Only incumbent councilors Hanz Abella, Dave Tumulak and James Anthony Cuenco were absent from Team Rama. Several independent candidates were also present.
The peace covenant signing was spearheaded by the Cebu City Police Office, Commission on Elections (Comelec), Dilaab Foundation and interfaith leaders.
The covenant was for the candidates to commit to an honest, peaceful and orderly elections.
Comelec Cebu City South District Election Officer Edwin Cadungog said though that their office is open for candidates who still wish to sign the document even if they were not able to attend the scheduled signing.