Nueva Ecija pols sign peace pact against violence
>> Tuesday, March 8, 2022
CABANATUAN City -- Nueva
Ecija seems to be headed for the May 2022 elections free from violence as local
candidates in this province last week signed a peace covenant aimed at keeping
a peaceful conduct of this year's polls.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) led a campaign for secure, accurate and fair elections (SAFE) among the candidates through unity walks and interfaith prayer rallies that culminated in the signing of the covenant.
Charisse Ortaleza Bolisay, Comelec election assistant in Nueva Ecija, in an interview with The Manila Times, said they had trained 949 Department of Education supervising officials whose task is to ensure that minimum public-health protocols are observed and that vote-counting machines are properly operated in voting centers in Nueva Ecija on Election Day.
The Comelec's SAFE initiative was participated in by 27 towns and five cities and started at General Natividad town, where Google and Facebook contractor and mayoral candidate Larry Ponce and his partner reelectionist Vice Mayor Emelita Manahan and his opponent incumbent mayor Anita Arocena signed the peace covenant.
Running for councilor under the Ponce ticket are Puti Ibarra, Gigi Galindo, Cecil Gamit, Awong Pangilinan, Igen Santos, Roy Domingo, Dong Valdez and Lance Santos.
In Talavera town, Mayor Nerivi Santos Martinez, who is gunning for vice mayor, and her rivals Brando Bautista and Leo Lacsamana also signed the covenant.
Her brother Nerito Santos Jr., who is eyeing the mayoral seat, and opponent Junjun Rodiel signed the peace covenant as well.
Another candidate for mayor, Alfredo "Jojo" Libunao, however, rejected an invitation to the event, according to Lt.Col. Jackyll Bilibli, Talavera chief of police.
Mayoral candidates Joy Pascual (Gapan City), Vianne Cuevas (Palayan City) and Dong Lopez (San Isidro) also signed the pact.
So did Jaen mayoral candidate Sylvia Austria, who is facing Mayor Antonio Esquivel; Cabiao incumbent Mayor Ramil "RBR" Rivera, who is opposing Marcelo "Telo" Santos; and Lupao Mayor Flor Paguio Esteban, who is squaring off against Amado Jong Corpuz.
"This initiative of the Comelec in collaboration with government agencies is not mandatory, but we encourage all our local political candidates to join the signing of the peace covenant." Col. Jess Mendez, Nueva Ecija provincial police director, said. The signing of the pact was attended by representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, the military, the religious sector and community groups.
Mendez, in a telephone interview, said there are no more private armies in Nueva Ecija, with politicians, according to him, now more God-fearing and peace-loving people.
Former three-term Talavera mayor Nerito Santos Sr. recalled that he and Jaen Mayor Antonio Esquivel have been best of friends since 2001.
Then-Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos placed the entire Nueva Ecija province under Comelec control in 2007 because of two shooting incidents in Jaen town involving Rep. Rodolfo Antonino and Esquivel.
Today, Antonino's daughter and former 4th District Rep. Magnolia Antonino is the wife of Esquivel's son Tony Boy Esquivel.
In the 2007 elections, Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali defeated Quezon town mayor Mariano Cristino "Boyet" Joson for governor. Today, Umali and Joson are known to be also friends, with the latter siding with the Umali camp.
Mendez said he will talk with the 32 chief executives of the province, including the governor, vice governor and four congressmen, to have them agree on maintaining peaceful elections in May.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) led a campaign for secure, accurate and fair elections (SAFE) among the candidates through unity walks and interfaith prayer rallies that culminated in the signing of the covenant.
Charisse Ortaleza Bolisay, Comelec election assistant in Nueva Ecija, in an interview with The Manila Times, said they had trained 949 Department of Education supervising officials whose task is to ensure that minimum public-health protocols are observed and that vote-counting machines are properly operated in voting centers in Nueva Ecija on Election Day.
The Comelec's SAFE initiative was participated in by 27 towns and five cities and started at General Natividad town, where Google and Facebook contractor and mayoral candidate Larry Ponce and his partner reelectionist Vice Mayor Emelita Manahan and his opponent incumbent mayor Anita Arocena signed the peace covenant.
Running for councilor under the Ponce ticket are Puti Ibarra, Gigi Galindo, Cecil Gamit, Awong Pangilinan, Igen Santos, Roy Domingo, Dong Valdez and Lance Santos.
In Talavera town, Mayor Nerivi Santos Martinez, who is gunning for vice mayor, and her rivals Brando Bautista and Leo Lacsamana also signed the covenant.
Her brother Nerito Santos Jr., who is eyeing the mayoral seat, and opponent Junjun Rodiel signed the peace covenant as well.
Another candidate for mayor, Alfredo "Jojo" Libunao, however, rejected an invitation to the event, according to Lt.Col. Jackyll Bilibli, Talavera chief of police.
Mayoral candidates Joy Pascual (Gapan City), Vianne Cuevas (Palayan City) and Dong Lopez (San Isidro) also signed the pact.
So did Jaen mayoral candidate Sylvia Austria, who is facing Mayor Antonio Esquivel; Cabiao incumbent Mayor Ramil "RBR" Rivera, who is opposing Marcelo "Telo" Santos; and Lupao Mayor Flor Paguio Esteban, who is squaring off against Amado Jong Corpuz.
"This initiative of the Comelec in collaboration with government agencies is not mandatory, but we encourage all our local political candidates to join the signing of the peace covenant." Col. Jess Mendez, Nueva Ecija provincial police director, said. The signing of the pact was attended by representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, the military, the religious sector and community groups.
Mendez, in a telephone interview, said there are no more private armies in Nueva Ecija, with politicians, according to him, now more God-fearing and peace-loving people.
Former three-term Talavera mayor Nerito Santos Sr. recalled that he and Jaen Mayor Antonio Esquivel have been best of friends since 2001.
Then-Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos placed the entire Nueva Ecija province under Comelec control in 2007 because of two shooting incidents in Jaen town involving Rep. Rodolfo Antonino and Esquivel.
Today, Antonino's daughter and former 4th District Rep. Magnolia Antonino is the wife of Esquivel's son Tony Boy Esquivel.
In the 2007 elections, Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali defeated Quezon town mayor Mariano Cristino "Boyet" Joson for governor. Today, Umali and Joson are known to be also friends, with the latter siding with the Umali camp.
Mendez said he will talk with the 32 chief executives of the province, including the governor, vice governor and four congressmen, to have them agree on maintaining peaceful elections in May.
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