Mt Province Kalinga poll bets sign peace covenants
>> Tuesday, April 16, 2013
By Gina
Dizon, Gilbert Tadiwan and Ian Addatu
Mountain Province and Kalinga candidates vying
for top positions in the May 14 polls signed peace covenants to refrain from
violence and work for peace in their respective provinces.
In Bontoc, Mountain Province, nine candidates
in the provincial level signed pact for “secure and fair elections (SAFE)”.
The SAFE 2013 covenant was
signed by congressional candidates MaximoDalog, Eugenia Manao for
Roy Manao and Tess Zarate for Jupiter Dominguez; governor
candidates Leonard Mayaen, Harry Dominguez, and Pio Kidpo for
Arnulfo Pilando; and board member candidates Florence Taguiba, Angelo
Fongafong, and Randolph Awisan here at the Philippine National Police
hall last April 5.
Said covenant was witnessed by provincial
election supervisor Nicasio Jacob, Provincial PNP Director William
Viteno, Provincial director of the department of interior and local government
Anthony Ballug and Battalion Commander Francisco Millare of the 54rth IB of the
Philippine Army.
The covenant bound candidates “not to corrupt
any voter, nor impose their will upon him by way of force or violence, threat
or intimidation in any manner impart freedom of choice”.
The candidates also agreed that they shall
abide by the rules not carrying fire arms and other deadly weapons.
Congressional candidate Jupiter Dominguez in
his message read by Zarate reminded the public of the “dark side of ambition”
exhibited during the May 2010 elections.
On May 2010, a PICOS machine was burned
at sitio ApalisParacelis and seven men arrested with guns and
live rounds of ammo loaded in three vehicles- hi lux, estrada and
pajero- with one of the captured guns registered to Maximo Dalog as
certified by the National Police Commission .
“The planners of deploying that armed convoy
in Paracelis should have thought three times over the long lasting
effect of their actions to our culture”, Dominguez stated.
The gun ban case filed by the Philippine Army
here at the Prosecutor’s Office in Bontoc is now being heard at the
Regional Trial Court here after it was moved to the jurisdiction
of then State Prosecutor Ceasar Nonnatus Roxas assigning
Prosecutor Elmer Sagsago of Baguio City to Atty
Elizabeth Bringas of Vigan and back to the RTC here due to motions
of inhibition of assigned prosecutors.
Covenant also called on following rules on
prohibited and illegal propaganda in the “spirit of good grace and friendly
rivalry”.
Comelec Resolution 9615 prohibits the posting
of campaign materials in “waiting sheds, sidewalks and lampposts, electric
posts and wires, traffic signage and other signboards erected on public
property, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers and underpasses,
bridges, main thoroughfares, center islands of roads and highways.”
Jacob reminded
candidates to have oversized streamers be removed
otherwise the Comelec
shall do the necessary removal with charges of Comelec
rule violations.
Comelec rules
stipulate posters should not exceed 2ft x 3feet and streamers in
headquarters not to exceed 3 ft by 8 ft.
Though Harry Dominguez
said in jest there was no need for posters much as people know the candidates.
Jacob also reminded
candidates that Comelec guidelines shall
be followed when Dalog asked that rules be relaxed.
Mayaen called for the
rule of law and the word of God in the conduct of elections.
Tabuk City, Kalinga, the Department of Interior and Local
Government, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines,
religious sectors and candidates also signed a peace covenant to promote peace
and order this election season.
Col. Roger Salvador,
501 brigade commander said in his message that the PNP and AFP have come up
with the peace covenant in partnership with religious sectors because he knew
that religious sectors are trusted by the people and have a vital role in
influencing masses and candidates to support the attainment of peace and order
in the province.
PNP Kalinga provincial
director Lawrence Perez said the peace covenant would be a boost in
maintain peace this election.
Bishop Rodencio Andaya
in his speech also expressed sincere support in the peace covenant program of
the PNP and AFP saying God wanted people to unite and love one another.
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