Thursday, April 19, 2007 Sign peace covenant, guv urges Mondia By Nicolas C. Delfin
FOR the sake of peace, Negros Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon Wednesday told Pulupandan town mayoralty candidate Samson Mondia to sign the peace covenant.
Mondia’s earlier refusal elicited doubts over his rival candidate lawyer Magdaleno “Magsie” Peña’s sincerity even after signing the peace covenant spearheaded by the Negros Occidetal Provincial Police Office (Noppo) and the Provincial Commission on Election (Comelec) last Tuesday.
“He (Samson) should show a sign of sincerity to the people for the purpose of ensuring an orderly, honest and peaceful elections,” Marañon said.
Also, Comelec Supervisor Jessie Suarez said Mondia’s refusal to sign the peace covenant might be bad for his candidacy.
“We have no choice and can’t force him either if that is a personal crusade for him. Its up to him to sign or not or else his opponent may use it against him,”
Suarez said.
Word war
Mondia, however, said signing wouldn’t mean anything, adding, “Peña will not respect the provisions stated in the covenant. It will just be the same thing. He will just continue everything he does.”
“No one has goons here in Pulupandan except Peña,” he added.
Peña, on the other hand, denied Mondia’s allegations and called the Mondias (Samson and the other mayoralty candidate Crisanto Mondia) as warriors after they snub the peace covenant signing activity.
Almost all political candidates, except for the two Mondia’s, signed the peace covenant.
“Their absence simply signifies that I’m the kindest and they are the warriors. “I’m the docile and peace loving being the only one among them who attended the signing of the peace covenant,” he added.
