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Baguio bets snub poll truce signing

BY DEXTER A. SEE

BAGUIO CITY – Candidates for various positions in this mountain resort city snubbed the covenant signing called by the Commission on Elections office here to ensure honest, orderly, and peaceful elections on May 1.

But the “no show” of most of the candidates during the covenant signing was not an indication of their attitude towards the implementation of elections laws and the bid to ensure peaceful and honest elections, lawyer Maribelle Corpuz-Uminga, city election officer said.

She said all the 69 candidates for congressman, mayor, vice mayor and councilors were given ample time to consider the Comelec invitation and that it even gave notices to candidates when they filed their certificates of candidacy.

It was learned that only five of the 69 candidates showed up at the recent covenant signing,

The event was designated to call for adherence to election laws and to ensure the holding of fair, honest and peaceful elections.

The candidates were supposed to sign an oath that they will follow Republic Act (RA0 9006 or the Fair Elections Act and Comelec Resolution No. 7769.

Those who attended the covenant signing were briefed on the role of Comelec Task Force Akas which is tasked to ensure compliance by the candidates with the rues on designated posting areas.

Task Force Akas, which is deputized by Comelec, is composed of the Baguio City Police Office, the City Environment and Parks Management Office, Department of PublicWorks and Highways and barangay officials.

Uminga said posting of campaign posters is probably the most controversial of all activities in the election.