By DANNY SABINO
GENERAL SANTOS CITY—At least three areas in Central Mindanao will be free from guns, goons and gold this May elections, as long as candidates who pledged to do so honor their promise.
About a hundred officials vying for elective positions in South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City signed a peace covenant with the Commission on Elections, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police on Wednesday. The signing was held at the Lagao Gym here during the Region 12 command conference for the 2010 elections.
The candidates committed to refrain from the use of violent and fraudulent means to win the election. The officials who pledged belong to various political parties and affiliations.
“We shall uphold the Constitution, faithfully comply with the election laws and regulations, conduct ourselves honorably at all times, campaign on issues proper and relative only to election matters and to refrain from attacking our opponents on matters not related to political advocacy,” the covenant read.
It added that parties are to promote a safe, clean, and wholesome environment and respect and reverence to life. They must also veer away from traditional politics starting with removing illegally posted campaign paraphernalia.
General Santos mayoral candidate Vice Mayor Florentina Congson said she hopes all parties will honor the covenant and that it will be strictly implemented.
The signatories also included General Santos Mayor and South Cotabato congressional candidate Pedro Acharon Jr., South Cotabato (1st District) Rep. and mayoralty candidate Darlene Antonino-Custodio, and Sarangani Vice Governor Steve Solon.
Since January, the PNP in Region 12 has arrested at least 119 gun ban violators and seized 112 firearms. Police in South Cotabato listed at least nine areas as hotspots. Sarangani has also been identified as an area of concern in the upcoming electoral race.