Bacolod City candidates signed a peace covenant for the conduct of clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful elections at rites held Wednesday and Thursday, February 9 and 10.
Bacolod Acting Election Officer Revo Sorbito said during a previous Provincial Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (JPSCC) meeting, Bacolod was considered an area of concern.
However, in a meeting last week it was agreed that Bacolod is peaceful and should not be considered an area of concern, he said.
Sorbito said Asenso Bacolod bets signed the peace covenant on Wednesday and the Grupo Progreso aspirants did so at rites at the Bacolod Government Center on Thursday.
Independent candidates also signed the covenant at the Bacolod police headquarters.
The candidates committed to focus on their respective platforms of government and to refrain from attacking the personal lives of their opponents, and to avoid vote buying, all forms of election fraud and the use of threats.
They also committed to refrain from spending beyond what is lawfully permitted during the campaign, to be held accountable for the actions of their campaign leaders, and to accept the results of the elections.
Members of the Asenso Bacolod Team who signed the covenant were mayoral aspirant Alfredo Benitez, Rep. Greg Gasataya, vice mayoral bet Caesar Distrito, and councilor aspirants Homer Bais, Simple Distrito, Al Espino, Celia Flor, Vladimir Gonzalez, Patrick Lacson, Bart Orola, Kalaw Puentevella, Thaddy Sayson, Pao Sy, Sonia Verdeflor and Jason Villarosa.
Candidates led by incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and congressional aspirant Dan Atayde signed the peace covenant at the Bacolod City Government Center.
“This is a very important event that is why Grupo Progreso came in full force. We believe in the spirit and intent of the peace covenant,” Leonardia said.
Incumbent councilors Cindy Rojas, Israel Salanga, Carl Lopez, Dindo Ramos, Renecito Novero also signed the peace covenant together with GP aspirants Em Ang, Jonathan Diaz, Ed Guillem, Marlon Solidum, Dr. Chris Sorongon and Cash Montalvo.
Councilor Archie Baribar, who was out of town, was represented by his son, Arete Baribar.
The peace covenant signing was spearheaded by the Commission on Elections led by Bacolod election officer Revo Sorbito, the Bacolod City Police Office headed by Police Col. Thomas Joseph Martir and church leaders, among others.*