Mt Prov politicos snub election peace accord

By Dexter A. See

BONTOC, Mountain Province – If politicians in conflict-stricken areas can bravely face their opponents in front of religious leaders and sign peace agreements for peaceful elections come May 10, most politicians in this landlocked province seem not to value giving their commitments to respect the rule of law related to the polls.

Various sectors in the province, particularly the religious and academe leaders, expressed disappointment over the failure of congressional and provincial candidates to signify their commitment for peaceful elections supposed to be done in front of student leaders of the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College campus here.

Ironically, only two candidates bravely faced the student leaders of the higher education institution and took their oath before them that they will uphold the conduct of clean, honest, orderly and peaceful elections.

Former Presidential Assistant for Cordillera Affairs and congressional candidate Tom Killip and vice-gobernatorial bet Arbee Talastas swore before the students that they will police their own supporters for them to abide by existing rules and regulations that govern conduct of peaceful elections.

Concerned MPSPC student leaders criticized other congressional, gubernatorial and vice-gobernatorial candidates who failed to appear during the signing of the commitment for a peaceful elections, saying that such kind of leaders do not deserve to be public servants since they do not practice what they say.

While Mountain Province is considered generally peaceful during elections because of the peace-loving attitude of the people, concerned student leaders said candidates for elective positions have the moral obligation to renew their commitment to uphold a peaceful elections so that they will be bound by their upcoming actions.

MPSPC students are now actively involved in the conduct of an intensified voters education campaign for the automated election system so that people in the far lung communities will be aware of heat to do come election day.

The student leaders are alarmed over the non-appearance of other local candidates in the signing of the peace commitment without any justifiable reasons, saying that such kind of politicians do not deserve to be elected into office since they do not honor simple but meaningful covenant signing activities.

Five towns in the province are being proposed to be included in the list of areas in the election watchlist because of reported election-related violence and incidents in the previous elections and areas being influenced by armed groups such as private armies and communist rebels.

Besao, Sagada and Bontoc are included in the areas under the influence of armed groups because some of the barangays in the said places are still being influenced by the communist rebels while Paracelis and Sadanga are listed in the areas with election-related violence and incidents due to reported ballot snatching incidents in the previous elections.