Gov. Lacson: My commitment to peaceful elections is steady

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said his commitment to peaceful elections “is steady.”

“Anyway, just like before my commitment for a peaceful election is steady,” he said.

The governor, who is seeking reelection in the May polls, said when there is time he will sign the peace covenant.

On Thursday last week,13 aspirants in the province signed the peace covenant at the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) headquarters in Bacolod City.

Signing the covenant were aspirants in the legislative districts – Victorias Mayor Javier Benitez (third district), Lea Delfinado (fourth district), incumbent fifth district rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo; gubernatorial aspirant Ferdenand Diego, vice gubernatorial aspirant Rosemarie Dreyfus, provincial board member aspirants – Don Salvador Benedicto Marxlen Dela Cruz represented by his brother and vice mayor Nehemiah Joe Dela Cruz (first district), Sixto Guanzon Jr., and Arthur Christopher Marañon (second district), Hope Marey Sazon (third district), Patricia Paula Valderrama, Leo Carlo Delfinado, and Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo (fourth district), and Aly Tongson Jr. (fifth district).

Earlier, the governor stressed the importance of civility in the electoral process, especially amid reports of vandalized campaign tarpaulins.

“In fact, I would like to call on all candidates to respect each other. I have heard about campaign tarpaulins being vandalized. You know, tarpaulins don’t win elections, but what’s important is respect. Let’s respect each other and show that in Negros, we can have a peaceful campaign and election,” he said.

Despite expecting a “noisy but peaceful’ election, Lacson expressed confidence that the province will remain orderly during the polls.”* (EYA)