Only Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, Vice Mayor Yul Servo, and the entire Asenso Manileño slate joined the unity walk and peace covenant signing sponsored by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and deputized agencies — as their rivals were no-shows.
Held at the Kartilya ng Katipunan, the event saw the participation of the ruling party while the rest of those running for local posts in Manila were absent.
“We came here to show our support for a decent, fair, and peaceful election in Manila. We believe that it is better if more people attend this type of initiative, especially since it’s an opportunity for us to show as public servants our commitment to the welfare of Manileños,” Lacuna said in Filipino.
“Hopefully, in the succeeding events like this, more will join aside from the Asenso Manileño,” she added.
After the unity walk and signing of the peace covenant, Lacuna, Servo, and their ticketmates released white doves to signify their commitment to a peaceful, fair, free, and orderly election.
With them were their candidates for the six districts of Manila, of which five are incumbent Congressmen, namely: 2nd District Rep. Rolan Valeriano, 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, 4th District Rep. Edward Maceda, 5th District Rep. Irwin Tieng, and 6th District Rep. Benny Abante Jr.
The affair was likewise attended by representatives from Comelec, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).