15 candidates sign covenant for peaceful polls in province

PEACE COVENANT: Cebu Province candidates, Comelec, police and military officials pose after signing a covenant for peaceful elections. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)

At least 15 candidates running for various positions in Cebu province yesterday signed a covenant for peaceful and orderly elections on May 9.

Jose Nick Mendros, regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), said the signing was merely symbolic and it would be up to the candidates to abide by their commitment.

With nine days to go before the elections, Mendros said he hoped the candidates would continue to follow Comelec rules because “they are presenting themselves to be leaders of the public.”

“I do believe they are obliged to be the first persons to follow all the rules,” Mendros said.

Senior Supt. Clifford Gairanod, Cebu provincial police chief, assured that the Philippine National Police (PNP) would remain apolitical and neutral as they secure polling precincts on election day.

“In the past elections, the police were only doing their jobs to arrest those who have goons or private armies,” Gairanod said.

He said there would be no “goons” to arrest if candidates didn’t hire any.

“We hope to see an election day as an ordinary day for police, one where we won’t need additional checkpoints, augmentations and red alert,” said Gairanod.

He hoped that those who attended the covenant signing were really committed to a peaceful election.

Those who signed the covenant were reelectionist Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, One Cebu vice-gubernatorial bet Nerissa-Soon Ruiz and independent gubernatorial aspirant Nito Magnanao.

Other signatories were reelectionist Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district, San Fernando Mayor Antonio Canoy, Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez, Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr., congressional candidate Paulus Cañete, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and former congressman Pablo John Garcia.

“We do this because we would like the coming elections to be free, honest and peaceful. Everybody would want that,” said Davide, who is seeking reelection under the Liberal Party (LP).

He wished, though, that Comelec and PNP had initiated the covenant signing earlier.

The governor’s opponent, One Cebu chairman Winston Garcia, did not make it to the ceremony due to “other pressing appointments.”

Garcia’s brother Pablo John said he attended the activity because he was hopeful.

“This time around, we were invited by the police. The last elections, there wasn’t anything like this. The administration used the police in the last elections. I am hoping that with Col. Gairanod taking this initiative, the PNP will really remain neutral,” he said.

The covenant signing, organized by the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) and Comelec, was held at the CPPO headquarters in Sitio Sudlon, Barangay Lahug in Cebu City Friday morning.