THE candidates seeking elective position in the second district of Sulu have signed a peace covenant to ensure the conduct of orderly and peaceful mid-term elections, the military said Thursday.

Colonel Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) information officer, said the peace covenant was initiated by the Marine Battalion Landing Team-3 (MBLT-3) in coordination with the police.

Besana said the signing, which was held Tuesday, April 23, in Panglima Estino municipality, was participated by representatives from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Department of Education (DepEd) and religious leaders.

Besana said the signatories of the covenant were the candidates of the 11 municipalities comprising the second district of Sulu.

These are Panglima Estino, Banguingui, Kalingalan Caluang, Lugus, Luuk, Old Panamao, Pandami, Pata, Siasi, Tapul, and Omar.

The activity was done purposely to ensure a peaceful, orderly, honest and credible election on May 13, 2019 in the 2nd district of Sulu.

“We sought the oath of the candidates to be united, for a peaceful and orderly election,” said Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, Westmincom chief, citing the safety and protection of the elections is their primary concern. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)