William Aguilar, deputy general secretary of the local party Partido Abe Kapampangan (ABE), lamented Lapid’s absence, saying it was “disrespectful of Angeleño voters and the organizers of the covenant signing.”
The event was organized by the local Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the local Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Aguilar said lapid’s absence was “indicative of his indifference to the policies that are expected of him as a mayoralty candidate.”
“Binale-wala niya ang mga proseso. Dahil ba artista siya ay tingin niya pwede na niya balewalain ang mga lehitimong proseso upang gawing tahimik at maayos ang halalan?” said Aguilar.
“Tingin ba niya, he can ride his way out of everything?” The two other mayoral candidates, re-electionist Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan of ABE and independent candidate Vicky Kabigting, who is on her last term as vice mayor, were present to sign the covenant.
Lapid’s vice mayoral candidate Willie Rivera also showed up, as did other vice mayoral aspirants Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno, Arvin Suller and Tony Mamac in the event that turned out to be an opportunity for the rival candidates to shake hands in a friendly atmosphere.
Lapid’s chief of staff, lawyer Filmer Abrajano arrived during the signing to represent the senator, but apparently did not explain Lapid’s absence. Punto failed to reach either Lapid or Abrajano by phone.
“We would understand if the signing event occurred on a Friday the 13th, but it wasn’t,” noted Aguilar, referring to the well-known policy of Lapid never to go out of his house every Friday the 13th which is reputed to bring bad luck.
The signing aims to promote unity and ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the electoral process among candidates. The signing was witnessed by parish priest Fr. Francis Dizon, PPCRV head Hilana Roman, City Comelec chief Numer Lobo, City Prosecutor Oliver Garcia, Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Rudy Lacadin, Department of Education city supervisor Leilani Cunanan, city police director Senior Supt. Sidney Villaflor and Air Force Col. Edgar Castro Torres.
