Pasay poll bets sign peace accord today

A covenant among the three candidates calling for fair play in the April 15 Pasay mayoral recall elections will be signed today.

The covenant signing, initiated by the local Commission on Elections (COMELEC), will be held at the Pasay City Hall's session hall at 2 p.m.

Calixtro Ramos, local Comelec head, issued a formal invitation for the three candidates to sign the covenant to ensure peaceful elections.

Expected to participate were Ricardo "Ding" Santos, a former security aide of former Mayor Pablo Cuneta; former vice mayor Wenceslao Trinidad and wheelchair-bound incumbent Mayor Jovito Claudio.

However as the three candidates disavowed violence and other dirty tactics, mudslinging seemed to dominate the campaign as they continue to exchange accusations against each other.

Santos cut short his house-to-house sorties to call a press conference yesterday to answer accusations by Trinidad that he is a drug protector and is using drug money for the elections.

"How could I be accused of using drug money when in fact I don't have any money to spend in the first place. My supporters who believe in my dreams are the ones who provide for their own food. They have offered their support voluntarily without getting paid at all," Santos said.

Santos said he finds it ironic that Trinidad should be the first to accuse him of any wrongdoing claming that the former vice mayor is the one facing graft charges at the Office of the Ombudsman.

He also clarified confusion on his party affiliation, saying that he preferred to run as an independent Lamp candidate without the official nomination of local Lamp officials.

"I did so in support of President Estrada's programs for the poor which I think must be implemented in Pasay City for the benefit of 70 percent of the population who are poor," Santos said.

On reports that Comelec is poised to initiate action against the three candidates for indiscriminate posting of streamers and posters, Santos said "we could not be blamed since the Comelec has not yet designated an area for the campaign paraphernalia."