Taguig supports Comelec and PNP for peaceful and honest elections

Officers of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Taguig and Taguig City Police have signed a peace covenant along with the local candidates running for the coming elections during a ceremony at the historic St. Anne Church in Taguig City.

The parties to the covenant signing were Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, Vice Mayor Ricardo Cruz Jr., 1st District Representative Arnel Cerafica and other candidates vying various local positions.

Mayor Lani said she fully supports the initiative of the local Comelec and Taguig police to commit the candidates to a peaceful and honest holding of the elections.

“This is a welcome development. I am in unison with the Comelec and Taguig police in their effort to have clean, honest and fair elections,” said Mayor Lani, who is running unopposed for her third and last term as local chief executive.

The signing of the peace covenant aims to promote among the candidates the program Secured, Accurate and Fair Elections (SAFE).

Those who attended the ceremony signed the “integrity pledge,” assuring the public of their commitment to adhere to honest and peaceful elections.

Senator Pia Cayetano and Councilor Michelle Anne Gonzales, who are contesting for the city’s second congressional district seat, were not able to attend.

Sen. Cayetano sent word that as much as she would like to attend and sign the covenant, she could not do so because of a prior commitment. The lady senator was speaking at a convention of women judges at the same time the ceremony was being held.

Sen. Cayetano assured the Comelec-Taguig and PNP that she will sign the covenant to show her commitment to the call.

However, Gonzales, sister-in-law of Atty. Gigi Gonzales, who is facing plunder and graft cases because of involvement in the controversial pork barrel scam allegedly masterminded by Janet Lim-Napoles, failed to notify Comelec and Taguig Police of her absence and reason for it.

Comelec Taguig Election Assistant Melanie Icaro said they sent letters of invitation to all the candidates for the holding of the peace covenant signing.

“The activity is symbolic in securing a peaceful, safe, and fair conduct of the 2016 elections. The presence of the candidates show their cooperation in ensuring an orderly conduct of the local and national elections,” Icaro said.

Also present at the ceremony were NCRPO chief police director Joel Pagdilao, Taguig Police chief Sr. Superintendent Ramil Ramirez, DILG Taguig officer-in-charge Gemma Dancil, Atty. Temie Lambino, director IV of COMELEC-NCR; and Rev. Fr. Edgar Barrameda  of the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Anne. ###