MANILA, Philippines--Candidates running for elective positions in Manila Wednesday signed a peace covenant to ensure orderly elections in the city in May.

Held at the Manila Police District Headquarters on United Nations Avenue, the event was witnessed by supporters and officials of the city government, as well as police and Commission on Elections officials.

?Covenant Signing for Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections (HOPE) 2010,? was attended by the local candidates led by three of seven mayoral bets, Mayor Alfredo Lim, former Environment Secretary Lito Atienza and former Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon.

Of the four vice mayoral candidates, only Councilor Ma. Lourdes ?Bonjay? Isip-Garcia, Atienza?s running mate, attended the covenant signing.

The covenant stressed that candidates and their supporters should refrain from engaging each other in violent standoffs, or else face disqualification.

The presence of Comelec National Capital Region chief Michael Dioneda was enough to make the covenant binding, according to MPD director Chief Supt. Rodolfo Magtibay.

Another police official, who refused to be named, expressed hope that the signing of the agreement would ease the tension among the candidates and their supporters.

He said he was particularly referring to the tension apparently brewing between Lim?s men and supporters of Atienza.

In his letter to Magtibay, Atienza lauded the efforts of the police to come up with the peace covenant even as he reminded them to be impartial and not to take sides during the entire campaign period.

He said the MPD Mobile Units have been escorting the teams of the city?s Department of Public Services, specifically in R-10 Boulevard, Tondo, as they dismantled campaign materials put up by his Buhayin ang Maynila team.

Atienza said he also received information that some policemen have been harassing vendors in the Blumentritt area for openly expressing support for his team, to the point of forcing them to use yellow-colored tents to be identified with the current administration.

?Pedicab drivers have likewise been promised that they would not be apprehended for traffic violations if they show their support for the incumbent city officials,? the former city mayor claimed.

?While we fully support and commit ourselves to this covenant, we are strongly reminding the police of their sworn duty to remain neutral,? he added.

Lim denied Atienza?s claim but said that he is open to holding an investigation. ?Let the matter be investigated and charges be filed. Sana lang puro totoo ang sabihin nila, huwag yung mga kathang-isip lamang. (I hope they?re telling the truth and this is not just a figment of their imagination.)?

Like Atienza, Lim urged Manila policemen to avoid engaging in partisan politics.

He vowed not to use the police force in his political campaign.

?I would rather lose the elections without using any of the MPD members than gain victory out of using them,? Lim said. ?Engaging in political activities is a violation of the Omnibus Election Code and might put the policemen?s jobs on the line.?

Lim expressed hope that the peace covenant will do away with dirty tactics.

?Let us all respect the will of the people and their right to exercise their right of suffrage, free from lies and any form of harassment,? he added.