• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Joint Provincial Security Coordinating Center (PJSCC) is spearheading a peace covenant signing among candidates for provincial posts on Feb. 13 at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City.
Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said on Monday, Feb. 10, that while it is voluntary for the candidates to attend, it is good if they will come to show their willingness to participate in the activities of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other stakeholders.
Invited to the peace covenant signing are those running for elected positions in the provincial level, from gubernatorial to board member aspirants, as well as aspiring members of the House of Representatives.
The Comelec, in partnership with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army, have also initiated peace covenant signing among candidates in the city and municipal levels since last week.
By signing the covenant, the candidates pledge to uphold and strictly follow the Comelec regulations, campaign fairly, present their platforms, avoid personal attacks, ensure clean and transparent elections by rejecting vote-buying, fraud, and intimidation, and accept the election results with integrity and full respect for the people’s decision.
During the weekend, re-electionist Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo of Moises Padilla led candidates for a unity walk and signing of a peace covenant in Moises Padilla.
The PJSCC, composed of the Comelec, PNP, Philippine Army and Philippine Coast Guard, will hold a meeting on Feb. 18 to thresh out matters on the declaration of election areas of concern in Negros Occidental.
The Comelec central office reported that there are five election areas of concern in Negros Occidental while the PNP has declared none.
Ananoria said the JPSCC is expected to come up with a common assessment on election hotspots, if there is any. | GB
