March 22, 2022
WITH just three days more to go before the start of the campaign period for the local elections, candidates running for various positions in Cebu have pledged to keep the polls secure, accurate and fair on May 9, 2022.
Candidates for top positions in Cebu province trooped to the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) headquarters on Tuesday, March 22, to affix their names on a peace covenant billboard signifying their support for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) mandate for honest, peaceful and orderly elections.
Candidates for governor, vice governor, and congressmen and board members from the first to seventh districts of Cebu attended the ceremony.
“This peace covenant signing may seem ceremonial. It may even appear hypocritical to some, but to the simple living Sugboanons it shows our commitment to peace and a manifestation of our burning desire to respect the mandate of the people,” said CPPO Director Police Col. Engelbert Soriano.
For his part, Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Jerome Brillantes called on candidates to cooperate and avoid getting into trouble in the course of the campaign.
“We will adhere to peace. We in the Comelec as well as our partners will provide equal and peaceful elections. Together with the PNP we will not hesitate to repel force by force,” Brillantes said.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia assured Cebuanos of safe and peaceful elections despite the political divisions.
“As governor of this beloved, incredible one in a million province, that has shown the rest of the country how to move on, move forward, and soar even to greater heights, I can commit here and now that even in the midst of all chaos and disorder that we may perhaps experience in the midst of darkness and gloom, I will always look forward to more shining moments for our beloved Cebu,” Garcia said.
Former tourism secretary and Cebu gubernatorial candidate Joseph “Ace” Durano also signed the peace covenant and vowed not to be involved in any trouble.
Durano, however, asked the Comelec to include a rule against tearing down of campaign posters in the covenant.
“So I hope director, if I may suggest, maybe we should add the rule against tearing down of tarpaulins if it is not yet included in the covenant,” Durano said in Cebuano.
But Brillantes said they would tear down posters placed in non-designated areas through their “Oplan Baklas,” in coordination with the police and military.
Over at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), a peace covenant was also signed by Mayor Michael Rama (PDP-Barug) and mayoralty candidates Councilor Dave Tumulak (Independent) and former city councilor Margot Osmeña (BOPK).
Also present were north district congressional candidates Richard Yap and Rachel “Cutie” del Mar along with other candidates of Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) and PDP-Barug.
Separately, Cebu City councilor and aspiring North District congressional candidate Nina Mabatid said she was present during the peace covenant signing organized by the CCPO.
Mabatid, in a text message to SunStar Cebu, said she came in late when she got to the covenant signing.
In a separate interview, fellow city councilor and South District congressional candidate Eduardo “Edu” Rama Jr. said he was not able to participate during Tuesday’s covenant signing as he was celebrating his wife’s birthday.
He, however, assured that he is committed for the observance of a peaceful and secure elections.
Both Mabatid and Rama are under the administration bloc Partido Barug.
Rama’s opponent, BG Abellanosa, son of incumbent Rep. Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa, attended the peace signing.
The candidates were given a “SAFE pin” to symbolize that they would all abide by the agreement.
White doves symbolizing peace were also released after the two ceremonies.
Meanwhile, Carcar City mayoralty candidates met to sign a peace covenant on Monday, March 21 before the city’s police chief, Lt. Col. Ardioleto Cabagnot.
Vice Mayor Nice Apura was accompanied by his entire slate and so with Councilor Patrick Barcenas, who is running against him for mayor.
Cabagnot, in an interview with SunStar Superbalita Cebu said the City remains peaceful and there are no reports of private armed groups that might be used in the May elections. (HIC, BBT, GPL / TBT)