COVENANT SIGNING. Candidates vying for various posts in Iloilo City in the May 2022 elections commit to secure, accurate, free, and fair national and local elections during an interfaith prayer for peace and unity, caravan and covenant signing on Wednesday (Feb. 9, 2022). Election Assistant II Jonathan Sayno said joining the covenant signing is not mandatory yet but hoped that candidates will give importance to the event.(Photo courtesy of Jonathan Sayno/ Commission on Elections Iloilo City) ILOILO CITY - The majority of the 37 candidates running for various posts here have committed to a clean and honest 2022 elections as they joined Wednesday's interfaith prayer for peace and unity, caravan, and covenant signing. Election Assistant II Jonathan Sayno, in an interview Wednesday, said they hoped that candidates will take cognizance of the activity. The almost half-a-day activity was a combination of virtual and caravan events. It started with an interfaith prayer via zoom with the organizers composed of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Army (DILG), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) staying at their base at the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) headquarters. The candidates and religious groups attended virtually. Thereafter, the organizers conducted a caravan bringing with them a copy of the covenant for the candidates to sign. Sayno said that none of the candidates was allowed to join the caravan to avoid the crowds from gathering. "The signing was done during the caravan. We brought the backdrop and a copy of the pledge where candidates waiting at the churches of their respective district will have to sign," he said. The last stop was at the Iloilo City Hall where most of the incumbent candidates waited. "Hopefully the candidates will be responsible in running their campaign such that it will be done in peaceful and professional way, don't use force or intimidation and never engage in vote buying. This is just a reminder for the elections to end peacefully especially that we are in the pandemic," he said. From the 38 candidates who filed their certificates of candidacy for various posts in the city, only 37 made it to the Comelec list after one has withdrawn. With the case of former councilor Joshua Alim who succumbed to an illness, Sayno said his family has already signified to field a substitute. Based on the Comelec official ballot, four candidates are vying for the city's lone district seat in the House of Representatives, three for mayor, two for vice-mayor and 28 for the Sangguniang Panlungsod seats. (PNA) }