Bacolod bets sign peace covenant
BACOLOD CITY — Mayoralty and congressional aspirants for the May 2010 election here in the City of Bacolod recently signed a Covenant of Peace before the presence of Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra at the San Antonio Abad Parish Church after a concelebrated mass.
The eight candidates present were former City Administrator Andrea Si, Bacolod Representative Monico O. Puentevella, Businessman Vladimir Gonzalez who are running for mayor as well as, former Press Undersecretary Anthony Golez, Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, former Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region head Ricardo Tan, former Vice Mayor Renecito Novero and former Congressman John Orola who are all running for congressional position.
Only Mayor Evelio Leonardia and congressional candidate Ramon Vicente Fernandez De La Cruz were not present during the peace covenant signing. Leonardia was in Kalibo Aklan on a personal pilgrimage but he was represented by his wife Elsa Leonardia.
Candidates present upon the signing of peace covenant expressed their intention to serve the people of Bacolod as a noble and sacred duty entrusted to them by God for the common good and welfare of the people. They pledged to focus on their platform of government and to refrain from attacking the personal lives of their fellow candidates during the campaign period and to avoid vote buying, election frauds and the use of threats.
It is also enshrined under the peace covenant that these candidates may refrain from spending beyond what is lawfully permitted during the campaign and be held accountable for the actions of their respective election/campaign leaders.
Bishop Navarra also urged them to accept nobly the results of the election and to respect whatever the decision of the people of the City of Bacolod this coming May 10, 2010 election. They also promised to defend our democracy and its ideals, because they believe that their freedom and democratic principles should not become a victim of a dishonest election so that their desire for social change will be concretized by their concerted efforts.
