Eight candidates running for top positions in Bacolod City signed peace covenants at the San Antonio Abad Parish in Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City yesterday, expressing their intention, support and participation to achieve a clean, honest, just, meaningful and peaceful elections.

The peace covenant signing was held after a 10 a.m. concelebrated mass officiated by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra as the main celebrant during the celebration of the parish of its Patronal Fiesta.

Present were mayoralty candidates former Bacolod City Administrator Andrea Lizarez-Si, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella and businessman Vladimir Gonzalez, aa well as, congressional candidates Undersecretary Anthony Golez Jr., Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, former Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region head Ricardo Tan, former Bacolod Rep. John Orola and former vice mayor Renecito Novero.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Ramon Vicente Fernandez de la Cruz, who is running for congressman, were not present during the peace covenant signing.

Leonardia, who was in Kalibo on a personal pilgrimage, was represented by his wife Elsa.

The candidates pledged to focus on their platform of government and to refrain from attacking the personal lives of their fellow candidates during the elections, to avoid vote-buying, election frauds and the use of threats.

They also pledged to refrain from spending beyond what is lawfully permitted during the campaign, to be held accountable for the actions of their election/campaign leaders, and to accept nobly the results of the election and respect whatever is the decision of the people of Bacolod on May 10.

The candidates further promised to “defend our democracy and its ideals, because we believe that our freedom and democratic principles should not become a victim of a dishonest election so that our desired social change will be concretized by our concerted efforts.”

Despite their political perspectives, they expressed their desire to work for a peaceful and prosperous future for the people, they added.

In his letter to the Bishop dated Jan. 15, 2010, Leonardia said he is most willing to sign this peace covenant because “I believe that clean, fair, honest, and peaceful elections are the bulwark of our democracy.”

However, he said, that every Feast of the Sto. Niño, (also set on January 17 this year), he has always gone to Kalibo, Aklan on a personal pilgrimage as an act of faith and thanksgiving to the Lord.

He started this devotion in the mid 70’s and he would not want to break it now, Leonardia said.

He asked the PPCRV to excuse his absence from the signing of the peace covenant and said that he would be most willing to sign it when he returns from Kalibo subject to whatever arrangements may be convenient to everyone.

Meanwhile, Navarra yesterday said they hope and pray that everything will turn out peaceful during the election.

Because of the signing of the covenant, he said he hopes that the candidates will be inspired to really make good their promise or oath to ensure that the elections will be clean, honest, peaceful, useful and meaningful for the good of the city and the province, he said.

Navarra said “I hope their hearts will be touched so that they will refrain from ungentlemanly way of conducting their campaigns, and in presenting the stand and platform of their respective candidates.

“But let us see to it that the people will be able to make their judgment objectively because of the platform presented to them,” he said.

The signing was witnessed by Col. Maximo Caro, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, Senior Supt. Manuel Felix, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, Senior Supt. Celestino Guara, Bacolod City police director, Jessie Suarez, provincial elections supervisor, Ryan Castro, Bacolod election officer, representatives of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

Meanwhile, Puentevella said he has been congressman for nine years and everyone knows he has been a very peaceful man and that he has not caused harm to anyone.

“I hope the candidates will follow the regulations of the Church because this will be good for the City of Bacolod,” he said.

He said he hopes that everyone will also unite and not make personal attacks, he added.

Puentevella said his political opponents in the past, former congressman John Orola, former councilor Archie Baribar and former vice mayor Renecito Novero, are now his friends.

They did not take things personally because they only want whatever will be good for the city, he said. Elections are just temporary so may the best man win, he added.*CGS

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