BALANGA CITY – The Diocese of Balanga in coordination with various agencies on Wednesday conducted at the St. Joseph Cathedral here a peace covenant among congressional, provincial and municipal candidates in the May 2013 elections.
Bishop Ruperto Santos said the candidates should have only one purpose for running – to serve Bataan.
“Dapat tandaan ang “3 Gs” bilang panuntunan ng mga kandidato at ito’y ang ‘Glory of God, Growth of Bataan at Good of our Souls’,” the bishop of 11 towns and one city in the province said in his homily.
Lawyer Gilbert Almario, provincial supervisor of the Commission on Elections, said “ang peace covenant ay upang ipakita na nagkakaisa ang mga kandidato at upang magkaroon ng credible elections.”
Gov. Enrique Garcia, running for congressman of the province second district; re-electionist Congresswoman Hermina Roman of the first district and Rep. Albert Garcia who is running for governor and his running mate Vice-Gov. Efren Pascual, Jr. were present in the peace covenant.
Their political rivals, former Gov. Leonardo Roman for congressman of the second district; former Bases Conversion Development Authority chair Felicito Payumo for congressman of the first district; Dinalupihan Mayor Joel Jaime Payumo for governor and lawyer Jay Consunji for vice-governor, however, failed to attend.
“May ibinigay silang mga dahilan kaya hindi nakadalo ngunit nakikiisa naman daw sila at pipirma sa peace covenant,” the bishop said.
“Maganda ang peace covenant, kailangan talaga na isang araw lang ang eleksiyon at pagkatapos magtulungan na,” governor Garcia said.
“Hindi naman laban ng personal ito, sports ang dapat,” said Congresswoman Roman.
Also joining the signing were candidates for municipal councilor, vice-mayor, mayor and provincial Board.
The Bataan police, Philippine Army, the Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, Comelec and the Department of Interior and Local government joined hands in the holding of the peace covenant.
