By VICENTE ALEJANDRO
TACLOBAN CITY – With more than a week left before the March 30 start of the campaign period for local candidates, the Commission on Elections in Eastern Visayas and the Archdiocese of Palo have called for a clean, honest and peaceful election.
“We call on the candidates and the voters to work together towards a peaceful election,” said Father Amadeo Alvero, spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Palo.
The Palo archdiocese covers the dioceses of Borongan, Calbayog, Catarman and Naval.
Alvero said he hopes there will be neither cheating nor vote-buying and that people can vote freely and not be intimidated or influenced by money. He said the Church’s advocacy against vote buying is being carried out through voters’ education by its social action centers and the parish pastoral councils.
“Let us pray for a peaceful election especially that the campaign period (for local candidates) starts on the Holy Week…I just hope that they would not be campaigning in places where people pray and meditate like churches, the Calvary Hill…,” he said.
The call for responsible campaigning by candidates was echoed by lawyer Veronico Petalcorin, Comelec-8 assistant regional director.
