CEBU CITY — Liberal Party candidates skipped a covenant signing organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Carcar City Police on Monday morning.
Cebu first district Provincial Board (PB) Member Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, the LP mayoral candidate, and members of his slate did not show up at the Carcar City gym where the activity was held.
Msgr. Carlito Puno, the Carcar City parish priest who administered the candidates’ oath which was held ahead of the covenant signing, said he is saddened with the absence of Alcoseba and members of his slate.
Alcoseba said in a separate interview that he was already committed to attend the Monday morning caucus of the Cebu Provincial Board.
PB Members hold their weekly sessions at the Cebu Provincial Capitol legislative building on Monday afternoons.
“We have important matters to tackle in today’s session. And I talked to (the) Carcar Chief of Police last Saturday informing him that I will not be able to attend (the covenant signing),” Alcoseba added.
A total of four mayoral candidates are seeking election in Carcar City located 39.1 kilometers south of Cebu City.
Three of the four mayoralty candidates–incumbent Mayor Nicepuro Apura of Nacionalist Party-Alayon (NP-Alayon) and independent candidates Vicente Balberonia Jr. and Agustin Sollano Jr.–attended Monday’s covenant signing, the first one to be organized in Cebu.
Also present were re-electionist Vice Mayor Mario Patricio Barcenas and candidates for councilor under the NP-Alayon slate.
Acting Carcar City Election Officer Arthur Patiga said the peace covenant signing was thought of to ensure the conducting of a peaceful, credible, and clean election in the city.
In a message, Msgr. Puno urged city candidates to work together despite their conflicting views.