I. Norte candidates sign peace pact

ST. WILLIAM CATHEDRAL, LAOAG CITY, February 9 – Local candidates in Ilocos Norte for various elective posts have signed a peace covenant here for safe and fair elections (SAFE) in the May 9 national and local elections.

The covenant signing, held a day before the campaign period for national candidates starts today, was jointly initiated by the Philippine National Police, DILG, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in an effort to prevent any election–related violence incidents in the province.

BishopBishop Renato Mayugba, of the Laoag Diocese, said the covenant is not only to assure a clean, honest, orderly and peaceful election but to establish a political affinity for Christian faith.

Before the covenant signing, Bishop Mayugba celebrated a mass held at the St. William Cathedral here. It was attended by more than 600 candidates, policemen, catholic lay ministers, clergies, Comelec/DILG employees and members of the local media.

“Once a candidate has supported this covenant, you are invoking Christian vocation for peace and unity for our country and for our province during the election period and beyond. Thus, I’m challenging all the candidates to make Ilocos Norte in the May 9, 2016 polls as a truly model for the glory of God,” Mayugba stressed.

Senior Supt. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., OIC of the Ilocos Norte police provincial office, asked the candidates to usher in the political exercise in the province towards honest, orderly and peaceful election (HOPE) on May 9.

Leading the signatories of the peace covenant was re-electionist Gov. Imee Marcos.
Marcos noted the activity is meant to obey the Christian virtues of love, justice and peace during the election exercise. (Freddie G. Lazaro/PIA- 1 Ilcoos Norte)