Senatorial candidate Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Monday signed a covenant for truthful and honest elections as a show of “malasakit” or compassion to the future of the Philippines.
At the same time, Romualdez expressed confidence that the Commission on Elections can protect the integrity of the 2016 presidential polls.
“Naniniwala ako sa malasakit nila [Catholic Church] para sa ating mga Pilipino. I have my faith also that the Comelec will not compromise the future of this country by ensuring just, honest, clean, and peaceful elections,” said Romualdez, leader of the House Independent Bloc.
Romualdez went to celebrate the Mass at the Manila Cathedral officiated by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle before taking part in signing the Truthful, Responsible, Upright, Transparent and Honest (TRUTH) Elections to ensure clean, honest and peaceful elections.
During the homily, Tagle said candidates should always remember that the blessing of running a government post has a huge responsibility.
The covenant is about the support of candidates to right to suffrage of everybody and junking “politics of personalities and patronage,” and “refrain from using guns, goons and gold.”
It also said that candidates should “strongly admonish [their] relatives, friends, followers and supporters to desist from using violence, deceit, fraud and other unfair and dishonest practices.”
While exercising vigilance, Romualdez called on the public to support the poll body’s preparations to guarantee credible elections.
“While we should give our support to the Comelec, the electorate should remain vigilant as their active participation would prevent incidents of cheating in this year’s political exercise,” Romualdez stressed.
Former Interior secretary Mar Roxas, presidential candidate of Team
Daang Matuwid of the ruling Liberal Party and Vice President Jejormar Binay, standard-bearer of the United Nationalist Alliance, among those seeking the country’s highest public office, attended the Mass and participated in the covenant signing Monday morning.