BANGUED, Abra – Gov. Eustaquio P. Bersamin challenged politicians and their respective leaders to learn to accept defeat and move on in their respective private and public lives to help significantly improve the state of law and order in the province and to change its image from a conflict-stricken one to a peaceful and progressive local government.
Bersamin made the pronouncement during the recent signing of the peace covenant among hundreds of local officials, tribal leaders and representatives from concerned stakeholders that bound themselves to sustain the advocacy of peace that will drastically change the image of the province into a peaceful and orderly province which will translate to economic growth and development in the countryside.
“Abra had always been in the limelight because of intensified political rivalry among traditional politicians but now we want Abra to be in the spotlight because of its lasting peace and that development that comes with it,” Bersamin stressed.
The signing of the peace covenant dubbed “Pagta ti Kapya’ was the culminating activity of the 8th celebration of the Abra Week for Peace.
He pointed out the failure of politicians to accept setbacks in their respective political career is a major contributory in enticing them and their supporters to embrace extraordinary means to get back at their opponents and those who did not support them which should not be the case at this time.
Bersamin added local leaders should now set an example for the present and future generations to emulate which is to openly accept defeat in the upcoming political exercise, learn to forgive by embracing Biblical practices because they will be the ones that will be rewarded in the future.
“Let us start working on our significant gains in peace and order. Let us not allow our gains to be turned into setbacks. Let us show the right way in achieving lasting peace for the present and future generations to emulate. Let us not deprive our province with the peace and development that it must have achieved if we were only able to give up our intensed political rivalry,” Bersamin said.
Abra was able to achieve zero election-related violence and incidents during the May 2013 mid-term elections because of the firm commitment of the police, military, local leaders and other peace advocates to change the dark image of the province into a much better one that will translate to better economic condition not only of the province but also the people, especially those from the countryside.
Bersamin urged signatories to the sacred peace covenant that embraced traditionally accepted practices of indigenous peoples in settling disputes and conflicts to be the ones to religiously follow their commitments so that their supporters will also be bound to advance peace initiatives that will continue uplifting the overall status of the province as a peaceful and developed one.
By Dexter A. See
