SAN JOSE, Antique — Candidates from all over the province vying for local positions in the coming May elections gathered at the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral in the provincial capital city to sign a peace covenant asking the poll bets to pledge to uphold Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful Elections (CHAMP).

Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo of the Diocese of San Jose de Antique, who led the Eucharistic celebration, echoed in his homily the call for candidates to find deeper meaning in their desire to serve Antiqueños. He also urged the bets to seek Divine guidance in their undertakings and be the guiding light at all times to all the people.

The Bishop appealed to candidates to prioritize the protection and conservation of the environment and resources of the province. He also asked the candidates to be more forgiving and understanding of one another.

“You have my support in your quest to empower the Antiqueños. We need to pray and join hands to attain development,” he said.

The peace covenant manifests the pledges of the candidates to attain CHAMP elections, to focus on the platform of government rather than launching personal attacks against fellow candidates, to avoid vote buying and all forms of election fraud and use of threats during the campaign.

It also asks the candidates running in the coming elections to refrain from spending beyond what is lawfully permitted during the campaign and be held accountable for all the actions of their election/campaign leaders.

St. Joseph Cathedral was filled with candidates running for various positions including congressman, governor, vice governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, municipal mayors, vice mayor and Sangguniang Bayan.

Provincial Election Supervisor, Atty. Gil Barcenal emphasized that the signing of the covenant is a call for peace and reaffirmation of the belief and commitment to God “that we are the true believers and followers of his word, “Love One Another As I Love You.”

The Philippine National Police (PNP), on the other hand, through PCSupt Artemio G. Hicban, read the statement of PNP Regional Director Isagani R. Cuevas who made a commitment that he will remain apolitical in his effort to attain peaceful and credible elections.

The signing of said peace covenant was jointly facilitated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose de Antique, Commission on Election-Antique Provincial Office, and the Antique Police Provincial Office.