Dagupan bets sign peace covenant
A PEACE covenant among candidates in Dagupan city was signed on March 8 but two principal signatories, former city mayor Benjamin Lim and his wife Celia, were not present.
Among those present to sign were Gina de Venecia, wife of Fourth District Congressman Jose de Venecia Jr., running to replace him; reelectionist Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., under the LP banner; reelectionist Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, running-mate of Mayor Fernandez; and Councilor Danilo Torio, NP bet for vice mayor.
The son of the Lim couple, Brian, running for councilor, signed on behalf of his mother who is running against De Venecia in the 4th district, and his father who is in the mayoralty race against Fernandez.
The couple, Benjamin and Celia, both under the Nacionalista Party, was reportedly en route to the city from a trip in China.
The other signatories present were Councilors Alfie Fernandez, Jesus Canto, Luis Samson Jr, Karlos Reyna and Alfredo Quinto, Maybelyn Fernandez, Alex de Venecia, Jeslito Seen and Alvin Coquia. Councilor Librada Reyna was absent.
NP candidates Leu Paragas, Alan Sison, Redford Mejia, Nelson Cuison, Alfonso Llamas and Butch Cardinal Torio and independent bets Titus Amigo Perez, Ignacio de la Cruz and Roberto Salayug also signed.
Chief Supt. Constante Azares Jr., regional police director and Police Provincial Director Percival Barba witnessed the signing.
ANOTHER SIGNING?
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas lauded the peace covenant but suggested another signing should be undertaken after the candidates have undergone a “spiritual retreat”.
Azares, who called on Villegas earlier, supported the suggestion saying the signing of peace covenants be made more sacred and meaningful even with just a half day of spiritual retreat.
Dagupan was so far the third area in Pangasinan where the candidates signed their own peace covenant. The candidates in Tayug and Binalonan have signed theirs earlier.
All three areas were in the Philippine National Police watch list as potential hot spots due to perceived intense political rivalries among candidates.
However, the inclusion of Dagupan in the watch list has been questioned by Superintendent Mariano Luis Verzosa, chief of police of Dagupan, and City Election Officer Remarque Ravanzo.
Barba said there are 10 more towns in the watchlist where their candidates will also be asked to sign a peace covenant.–LM
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