By Edwin Fernandez | Philippine News Agency
ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat – Military and election officials foresee a peaceful and orderly May 13 elections in nearby Datu Abdullah Sangki town of Maguindanao province after candidates for various posts signed a peace covenant Thursday.
Lt. Colonel Alvin Iyog, commander of the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (MIB), and Maguindanao election supervisor Ernie Palanan led the gathering of local candidates who pledged against violence and vowed to help in the conduct of peaceful polls.
The peace covenant signing was held at the 2nd MIB headquarters in Barangay Kamasi, Ampatuan, Maguindanao with Sultan Kudarat Governor Pax Mangudadatu in attendance.
Three aspirants are vying to take the seat of incumbent Mayor Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu, who is running for governor of Maguindanao.
The three mayoral candidates, who vowed to work for peaceful elections, are Ali Sangki Mangudadatu of Nacionalista Party, Mohammad Simpal Sangki of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban, and Suraida Sangki, an independent candidate.
“We are glad for your attendance here, we foresee a peaceful election in this part of Maguindanao,” Iyog told the candidates before the covenant signing.
Palanan, meanwhile, appealed to the candidates to control their supporters and never resort to mudslinging during the last days of the campaign period.
“Make the campaign and electoral process peaceful and the voters mature because, after the election, all of you are still residents of this town,” said Palanan in the vernacular.
“Elections come and go, do your role as peacekeepers,” Iyog told the candidates’ supporters.
Iyog assured the candidates that the military would always remain neutral in the process.
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