Thousands of barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan bets swear, sign peace covenant

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — Around 3,000 candidates for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections gathered at the Ormoc Superdome in Ormoc City on Monday signed a peace covenant and swore to maintain peace and order with their supporters throughout the election period.

Comelec-Ormoc head Ramon Dadulla Jr. also briefed the candidates on the election rules, the prohibited acts and their obligations to file their respective statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE), win or lose, after the elections.

Senior Superintendent Ramil Ramirez, director of the Ormoc City Police Office, challenged the candidates to prove they are worth to be called “honorable.” He also emphasized that attaining peace and order in the village lies in the hands of the candidates and their supporters.

City local government officer Jeremy Bagares, for his part, told the candidates that they must be “matino, mahusay at maasahan.” He emphasized on the qualifications of the candidates to be able to do the job required of them, to include paperwork and reports.

Bagares said he was hoping that none of the candidates in the city are in the narco-list of the PDEA, especially with Ormoc’s dark period when it was touted as the drug capital of Eastern Visayas.

Others in the peace covenant signing event were Captain Salve Evangelista of the 802nd Infantry Brigade; Elizabeth Marte representing the Department of Education, and Father Isagani Petilos, Ormoc parish priest who represented the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).