GENERAL TRIAS CITY – Some 612 bets for village chiefs and councilmen, including their Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) counterparts, have signed an integrity pledge, signifying their commitment for the conduct of peaceful and clean Barangay and SK elections this May 14.
The “Covenant Signing for Peaceful Barangay Election,” initiated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) here, was held at the historic St. Francis of Assisi parish church in Barangay Bagumbayan and at Our Lady of Guadalupe in upland Barangay Javalera, respectively, on April 30.
In an interview with Local Election Officer Armando Vencilao on Wednesday, he said the event, a regular activity before the start of election period, provides a venue for candidates belonging to different political parties to meet, socialize or reconcile their differences.
The practice helps in pre-setting the tone, mood for the candidates on how to carry themselves in their campaign, while at the same time, “help diffuse any air of tension among rival candidates – if there are any,” Vencilao said.
In the integrity pledge, candidates were asked to certify their commitment for the conduct of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections.
Through their words and actions, they pledge to abide by the tenets of the country’s Constitution, election laws, rules and regulations, respecting the sanctity of the electoral exercise, Venclao said.
Candidates also commit not to offer or give bribes or gifts to corrupt the integrity of the democratic process, to respect the norms of conduct expected of public servants, and to run a clean campaign by observing fairness, common decency and good faith.
For the city’s 33 barangays, there are 33 slots available for the village and SK chiefs, while 231 slots are open for village councilors, and 264 for SK kagawads. There are 26 Village Chiefs running for re-election and 9 of them are running unopposed.
City Mayor Antonio Ferrer, Cavite 6th District Representative Luis A. Ferrer, Local DILG chief Aladdin Calanog, and GenTri Police led by Officer in Charge Superintendent Gil Torralba witnessed the event. (Gladys Pino/PNA)
