CEBU CITY – Candidates signed a peace covenant at the Cebu Provincial Police Office here on Wednesday, March 26, three days before the start of the campaign period for the local elections.
CEBU gubernatorial candidate Pamela Baricuatro affixes her signature during the signing of a peace covenant among local candidates in Cebu on Wednesday, March 26. (MyTVCebu)
The Commission on Election-Central Visayas (Comelec-7) spearheaded the event to ensure an orderly, fair, and safe midterm elections.
Key political figures such as reelectionist Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia skipped the event due to prior commitments.
Garcia’s opponent, Pamela Baricuatro, and Joselito Ruiz, a candidate for vice governor vying against Board Member Glenn Soco, were among those who attended the activity.
Congressional candidates Karen Hope Garcia, Salvador Cariaga, Janice Salimbangon, Sun Shimura, Maria Fema Duterte, and Joselito Navarro were also present.
Provincial Comelec Officer Marchel Sarno said the covenant signing was a significant event leading to the start of the campaign period for local candidates on March 28.
He said delivering genuine public service doesn’t start from winning but before the elections begin.
The Comelec-7 is hoping that the region will be peaceful from the start and end of the campaign period.
Sarno called on the candidates to show respect to each other.
“I hope that your campaigns will be fair and full of respect,” Sarno told the candidates.
Police Col. Jovito Atanacio, chief of CPPO, said police are ready to provide security during the campaign period.
Anatacio said some 2,900 CPPO personnel were tasked to secure the elections.
He expressed confidence that the conduct of the elections in Cebu will be peaceful as no areas of concern have been declared in the province.
The province is under a more relaxed green category.
“If we are under the green category, it doesn’t mean that we will relax since we don’t know each of the residents but we are hoping and praying that we will be able to have a successful election,” Anatacio said.