Villegas to candidates: Choose heaven, not hell
TO ENSURE PEACEFUL POLLS
LOCAL candidates led by Governor Amado Espino Jr. and his running mate Ferdinand Calimlim swore before Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas on Tuesday to uphold both the laws of God and man to ensure a peaceful election on May 10.
With their right hands on their chests, the candidates pledged not to resort to vote-buying, coercion, threat and intimidation; spend beyond what is lawfully permitted; employ private armies and other illegal and inimical acts just to win in the election.
The candidates made the pledge and signed the document for peace and cooperation after attending a three-hour recollection at the Lay Formation Center of the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese in Dagupan.
HEAVEN OR HELL
Villegas, in his homily during the event, told the candidates they have only two choices to make: go to heaven if they do good or to hell if they do bad, and pleaded for them to choose heaven rather than hell.
He also urged to the candidates to do their Christian duty of ensuring that the elections will be orderly, clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful (OCHAMP).
“Choose heaven, choose God, choose morality, be maka-Diyos, Makabayan and God would be with you,” Villegas said.
The event was organized by the clergy, the Philippine National Police and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting to help ensure the conduct of honest, orderly and peaceful elections.
Only 45 of the local candidates in the entire province attended the signing and recollection with the rest begging off due to busy schedules.
Aside from Espino and Calimlim, the others who joined the signing were reelectionist 3rd District Rep. Rachel Arenas,; former Presidential Management Staff Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. who is running for congressman in the sixth district; Justice Demetrio Demetria, a candidate for congressman in the fifth district; and former Rep. Generoso Tulagan who is running for mayor of San Carlos City.
Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Constante Azares Jr., who attended the event, said although only a few candidates joined, it was nevertheless successful and ought to be replicated in other areas.
Police Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Percival Barba, Provincial Election Officer Reddy Balarbar and members of the media also witnessed the event.
A similar activity was held among candidates the next day in San Fabian through the initiative of Fr. Oliver Mendoza, the parish priest.
Mrs. Gina de Venecia, candidate for congresswoman in the fourth district, said she sent prior notice to Villegas that she could not come.
She attended an earlier covenant signing at the Saint John Metropolitan Cathedral.—LM
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