BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan proudly declared in Wednesday’s Ugnayan Kay Mayor forum at City hall that despite some minor incidences, the recent barangay and SK elections in the Summer Capital was generally “orderly, peaceful and violence-free”.
Domogan cited the collective efforts and cooperation of the local government, Commission on Elections, Department of Education, police, non-government organizations, religious and other sectors in making this possible.
As chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), Domogan happily noted that it was also more or less the same peaceful situation in most parts of the Cordillera region.
The Mayor specifically pointed out that Baguio city and Benguet province have always had peaceful and orderly elections where politically-motivated violence is unheard of as far as he remembers.
He stressed that those running for elective positions should remember that these are just temporary and fleeting endeavors that does not justify the use of violence, cheating or maligning their fellowmen in the attainment of their political aspirations.
Days before the elections, more than 2,500 of the city’s barangay and SK candidates participated in the signing of a peace covenant spearheaded at the Baguio Cathedral as an act of commitment for an orderly, peaceful, honest and drug-free elections.
During the signing, Domogan urged the candidates to avoid voicing baseless accusations and mudslinging against each other since the effects of these lingers on even when the elections are over.
The Mayor also reminded the candidates that he cannot endorse anybody being the incumbent chief executive and that he must remain impartial.
By: Gaby Keith
