OATH OF PEACE. Reelectionist Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez (left) and Emilio Bernardino “Dino” Yulo, former vice governor and board member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, running for congressman of the Fifth District of Negros Occidental, take their oath of commitment for a peaceful May 9 national and local elections in rites held at the Kapanalig Hall in Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City on Thursday (Jan. 27, 2022). Some 15 candidates participated in the activity initiated by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office. (Photo courtesy of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office)
BACOLOD CITY – Some 15 candidates running for various positions in Negros Occidental have participated in the signing of a peace covenant for the May 9 national and local elections initiated by the Philippine National Police (PNP) here on Thursday.
The activity, held at the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office Kapanalig Hall in Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. here, preceded the meeting of the Provincial Joint Security Control Center composed of the PNP, Philippine Army, and Commission on Elections.
Col. Leo Pamittan, police provincial director, who administered the oath of the aspirants and led the signing rites, thanked the candidates for their participation.
“The NOCPPO will do its best to ensure that the election process be peaceful and orderly,” he said.
Those who attended were the two challengers of reelectionist Governor Eugenio Lacson, including lawyer and former Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Juan “John” Orola and Ma. Socorro Sibulan.
Lacson is still in isolation after he tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Also present were vice gubernatorial candidate Jonry Gargarita; reelectionist Third District Board Members Andrew Montelibano and Manuel Frederick Ko and their opponents Antonio Barello Jr. and Tukoy Occida; reelectionist Fourth District Board Member Jose Benito Alonso and challenger Cleo Gaudite.
Others included reelectionist Fifth District Board Member aspirants Hernan Gatuslao Vista, Rolito Espinosa, Patrick Montilla, and Anthony Occeño.
For the congressional post, those present were reelectionist Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez as well as Emilio Bernardino “Dino” Yulo, former vice governor and board member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, and former village chief Anthony “Macoy” Javelosa of Aguisan, Himamaylan City, who are both running in the Fifth District.
After taking their oath before Pamittan, the candidates joined the symbolic signing of the covenant, which contains the rules and laws pertinent to the Commission on Elections resolutions governing the conduct of clean, honest, accurate, meaningful, and peaceful elections.
Provincial Elections Supervisor Roberto Salazar and Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, also took part in the ceremony.
Prayers were offered by Mohamad Abdul Aparesio, representing Imam Omar Betita of the Dar-Aldikhr Islamic and Guidance Center; Fr. Francisco Perez, on behalf of Bishop Patricio Buzon of the Diocese of Bacolod; and Pastor Felix Tapang, PNP interfaith coordinator. (PNA)
