BALANGA City — Municipal, provincial and congressional candidates on Saturday attended a peace covenant for an honest and peaceful elections in Bataan on May 13 at the Saint Joseph Cathedral here.
The peace covenant was sponsored by the Bataan police, the Philippine Army’s 48th Infantry Batalion, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).
Candidates in each 11 towns and city signed Integrity Pledge Boards pledging to abide by the tenets of the Constitution, election laws, rules and regulations and respect the sanctity of the electoral exercise.
Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Diocese of Balanga advised the electorates not to vote for candidates based merely on names but on what they have done and shown.
“Ating sagutin, ano ba nagawa at ano ba ipinakita ng kandidato. Iyon ang magiging sukatan, batayan ng ating pagboto. Hindi sino bagkus ano at paano,” the Bataan prelate said.
He said the candidate should be honest, industrious and helpful.
“Dapat matulungin na handang magbigay ng lakas, ng kanilang galing at hindi pera bagkus ang ibinibigay ay ang kanilang pagkatao, magandang halimbawa, magandang salita, mabuting gawa,” the bishop said.
Santos said the candidates should not be thinking only of themselves.
“Ang tutulungan nila hindi ang kailang sarili, hindi ang grupo, hindi ang pamilya bagkus ang tao, tayo. Lahat ay kanilang ibibigay na handing magpakasakit, handing mawala, handing maubusan para lang makatulong at iyon ang ating pipiliin.”
Senior Supt. Marcelo Dayag, Bataan police director, said he was hopeful that like in past elections in Bataan, the coming electoral exercise will be peaceful. “Walang recorded election hot spot sa Bataan,” he said.
Aside from the Roman Catholic prayer delivered by Santos, Iman Hassan Macacua recited the Muslim prayer and Pastor Jhonny Tomboc the Christian prayer.
Doves were later released to symbolize peace.
