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| Ilocos Norte candidates for the May elections sign the covenant at the St. William Cathedral. (Lei Adriano) |
By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff
reporter
LAOAG CITY—A day before the official
start of national elections campaign, local candidates with or without
challengers showed up early Monday, February 8 at the St. William Cathedral to
attend mass and sign the covenant for peace and cooperation in the coming May elections.
Officiated by Laoag Bishop Renato
Mayugba, the bishop thanked all candidates for attending the mass and covenant
signing initiated jointly by the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office, Parish
Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and the Commission on Elections.
“Your presence signifies your
support. All of us dreams and aspires for peaceful elections. There shall be no
room for selfish motive. Let us allow our people to exercise their right to
vote freely and usher new and committed service to benefit the people we
serve,” Mr. Mayugba told candidates and their supporters after the mass and the
candidates made a pledge of commitment to abide by the rules of law.
“The city of God and the city of man
can work together for the glory of God. Thank you for your cooperation with the
activities of the church—the executive, legislative and the judiciary,” Mr.
Mayugba said as he enjoined all candidates—unopposed or not to become a true
model of good deed and public service above self.
Election
watch list
Led by Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos,
who is running for reelection unopposed, she urged fellow candidates to abide
by the fair elections act and ensure peaceful and orderly elections.
Marred by several violations of
election gun ban and controversy of at least three Ilocos Norte
mayor-candidates from Solsona, Badoc and Bangui including two vice mayors from
Badoc and Solsona who are currently suspended by Ms. Marcos for alleged grave
abuse of authority and misconduct, the INPPO led by police provincial director
P/Sr. Supt. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., initiated the covenant signing at the
Laoag Cathedral.
As of press time, the Philippine
National Police has already identified at least seven of the 21 municipalities
and two cities here as a priority watch list in the upcoming 2016 elections.
The provincial police director said
the police is closely monitoring the situation in these seven municipalities as
they have also increased police visibility and the establishment of strategic
PNP-Comelec checkpoints.
Based on a joint meeting attended by
election officers and police personnel concerning security and elections
preparations held recently at the St. Ignatius de Loyola Chapel at Camp
Valentin S. Juan, this city, Atty. Alipio Castillo III, Ilocos Norte provincial
election supervisor, said they have partially identified the towns of Bacarra,
Bangui, Pagudpud, Vintar, Badoc, Marcos and Solsona as under election watch
list.
According to Mr. Alipio, there had
been previous incidents involving key officials and relatives of candidates in
these municipalities that may provoke an untoward incident.
Should rivalries heat up, the police
have already started instituting preventive measures. Some of these include the
activation of provincial security control center, strengthening of community
intelligence surveillance, conduct of checkpoints installed in strategic
places, and inventory of loose firearms, including the continuing arrest of
most wanted personalities in Ilocos Norte.
Based on the Omnibus Election Code,
Mr. Alipio underscored that political candidates are not allowed to have police
escorts except if they have apparent death threats and their claim is valid.
He added that with the lack of
police personnel to maintain peace and order, candidates may opt to hire
private security personnel, provided these individuals are qualified and belong
to a duly-registered security agency.
Fair
Election Act
During the covenant signing, the Comelec represented by Batac
City election officer Josephine Balbas reminded all candidates to have a copy
of the Fair Election Act which serves as the bible during elections.
“Anything outside the Fair Election
Act is illegal. Please follow the prescribed size of election paraphernalia and
the designated common poster areas,” Ms. Balbas reiterated.
Meanwhile, Department of Interior
and Local Government provincial director Roger Daquioag wished all candidates
good luck and “may the will of the people prevail.”
“Let us choose our leaders who can
deliver public service. After the election, let us go back to work again in
unity and commit ourselves to public service,” said Mr. Daquioag as he enjoined
candidates to look at their counterparts and utter the words, “Kay ganda ng umaga kapag kasama kita,”
with a smile.
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