The Commission on Elections in the Province is urging candidates in the May 9 polls to participate in the peace covenant signing to show their commitment to a safe, peaceful, and orderly elections.
Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec provincial election supervisor-designate, said on Thursday he believes the peace covenant would bring together the rival candidates for a common good.
“Although we all know that not all candidates would like to show up in the same activity to face their opponents, it would be great if those who came and signed the covenant would adhere to what was manifested in the document,” Castillano said.
The peace covenant signing is just a reminder of what to uphold during the election period leading to the polls, but the candidates are not “legally” mandated to attend the activity, he said.
“Hopefully, they can show to the public that they can engage in clean campaigning and will not engage in dirty politics, and worse, kagubot (violence),” he added.
The Diocesan Electoral Board of the Diocese of Dumaguete will lead the peace covenant signing on March 18 here.
DEB Convenor, Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela, said the details are being finalized together with the Comelec, the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army.
“We are hoping to bring all of the candidates at the provincial and local levels to the peace covenant signing, but that would require a large venue, which should be considered due to restrictions brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic,” Monsignor Heruela said.
Bishop Julito Cortes, who chairs the DEB, the Comelec provincial election supervisor, and the provincial police director, are among the speakers during the event, he said.
The DEB comprises the Comelec, PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Education, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, National Movement for Free Elections, the media, and other partner groups such as electric cooperatives, among others, that share the common goal of having peaceful and orderly elections
Meanwhile, Castillano said the names of candidates who have pending disqualification cases are still included in the official Comelec ballot.
He said this is the case of two candidates running for the same position in the Province.
“Their names are already printed in the official ballot, the template of which can be found in our website, and in the event a final and executory decision is made before election day, the votes counted on their behalf shall be deemed stray,” Castillano said.
He declined to identify the names of these candidates or the position they are running for in Negros Oriental, saying the disqualification cases were filed directly with the Comelec central office, and that they cannot comment on these.
Castillano’s clarification came amid the disqualification cases involving the two candidates — one of a supposed nuisance candidate, and the other, involving the legality of his term in public office.
“At this point, these individuals can still proceed with their candidacies, participate in the election campaign, and can even be voted into office unless disqualified,” he said.
But the Comelec lawyer said it could take years before a disqualification case is resolved, based on previous cases filed against candidates.
The ruling of the poll body can also be contested, and brought before the Supreme Court for final decision, making the process more tedious, he said.
And if disqualified, a candidate who was elected during the elections can still be removed from office, he added. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
