Pampanga politicians sign covenant for peaceful polls

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is seeking a third and final term as representative in the second district of Pampanga province, could not make it to the event, but her only daughter, Luli Arroyo-Bernas, stood for her.

Nearly two-thirds of the 573 candidates in the province’s 19 towns and two cities also showed up at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in this capital to sign a peace covenant on Tuesday, coinciding with the start of the election campaign period for national candidates.

“Walang away-away (There should be no feuding),” Gov. Lilia Pineda and her son, Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda, were heard telling them.

The governor was not going to campaign on March 25, the start of the campaign period for local candidates, as she is running unopposed for her third and last term. She said she would spend the time to monitor the campaign season and work to make the elections peaceful.

Arroyo is under hospital detention in Quezon City on a plunder charge in connection with the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds when she was President.

Governor Pineda said she would not endorse any national candidate, leaving the choice to voters instead.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the province organized the event, but leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and Iglesia ni Cristo were absent. According to Pineda, the religious leaders were given invitations, but they refused to issue any statement when contacted by the Inquirer for comment.

Lydia Pangilinan, the outgoing election supervisor, gave the candidates a rundown of campaign rules from March 25 to May 7.

So far, no reports of election-related violence have been recorded, even in the towns of Arayat, Mexico and Masantol, which are regarded as hot spots.

Emmanuel Ignacio, Comelec assistant regional director, also announced the start of Oplan Baklas, or the removal of campaign materials in wrong places such as trees and government buildings. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon