TAYABAS CITY, Quezon – Candidates here on Tuesday, Feb. 4, signed a peace covenant for the May elections.

TAYABAS City Mayor Lovely Reynoso-Pontioso signs a peace covenant for the upcoming elections. (Danny Estacio)
They vowed to avoid spreading fake information against rivals using artificial intelligence and social media and vote-buying that destroys the integrity of the elections.
They also denounced support from communist rebels and private armed groups that would affect the conduct of honest, free, and democratic elections.
The signing was led by reelectionist Mayor Lovely Reynoso-Pontioso. Other signatories were the four other mayoral aspirants, two vice mayors, and 26 councilors from different political parties and independent candidates.
The covenant was organized by the city police station and Commission on Elections and supported by the Philippine Army, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), multi-religious groups, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).