Tuesday, April 15, 2008 Feuding Ronda officials sign peace covenant
HOPING to bring about an atmosphere of peace in the town of Ronda, Mayor Esteban Sia, Vice Mayor Mariano Blanco III and Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Carmelo Valmoria signed a peace covenant yesterday morning.
The covenant, Valmoria said, was to “promote unity and cooperation” among the town’s major stakeholders.
Valmoria said Ronda was not as chaotic as it was being portrayed although they noted an increase in crimes in the southwestern town.
In 2007, Ronda ranked ninth in the CPPO’s list of most number of index crimes.
Ronda had 23 cases of serious physical injuries, which made up .6 percent of the CPPO total index crime rate last year.
Witnesses
The entire town council, parish priest Fr. Cosme dela Peña and representatives from the business sector, senior citizens, nongovernment organizations, Department of
Education and Department of Interior and Local Government were present as witnesses to the covenant.
Both Sia and Blanco shook hands and expressed their belief that it was one step to attaining peace in Ronda.
“It is the best (measure),” Sia told reporters after the signing before quickly leaving the CPPO.
Blanco, for his part, is hopeful all will work out.
“If there is peace, naa’y progress ang lungsod (there will be progress in the town). On my part, I am sincere,” Blanco said.
Formula
Both declined to elaborate and referred reporters to Valmoria, saying it was his idea to hold a covenant signing.
Valmoria earlier revealed that he had a “formula” to bring peace to the town. He said this covenant was part of that formula.
Aside from the covenant, the parish council of Ronda submitted a manifesto of support for the covenant.
The manifesto stated that Sia and Blanco have “humbled themselves as brothers of faith in God, sacrificing personal interest for the common good of Ronda.”
“They (Blanco and Sia) have given their word to abide by their respective responsibilities,” Valmoria said.
Aside from the covenant, Valmoria also sent additional personnel from the Special Reaction Unit and Provincial Mobile Group to Ronda.
The word war between the two officials began when Sia’s bodyguard was shot dead last October. The witness to the shooting was also shot two months later, but survived.
Sia blamed Blanco for the shootings, while Blanco denied this and claimed all the trouble started when Sia assumed as mayor.
Armed men also strafed Sia’s house early this month. Two allegedly drunk men who got into a fight also entered his house and fired shots at police officers who tried to arrest them last week. (MEA)
