KBP urges peace covenants in poll ‘areas of concern’
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) Aklan chairman Augusto Tolentino wants five other election “areas of concern” to initiate peace covenant signing to prevent election-related incidents.
Tolentino said the towns of Lezo, Libacao, Ibajay, New Washington and Madalag have been cited as “areas of concern” by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Last Sunday, the PNP, Commission on Elections (Comelec), the KBP, the Aklan Police and Defense Press Corps and the Aklan United Media Association sponsored the covenant signing between Buruanga mayoral bets to avert possible election violence after the indiscriminate firing incidents last week.
“With the growing intensity of campaign and political developments in these towns, we are persuading to kick off the peace pact between warring political candidates,” Tolentino said.
Tolentino also assured the candidates that the local media and the PNP led by Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. are closely watching the situation on those towns named as “areas of concern”.
He cited the town of Lezo where incumbent Vice Mayor Victor Fernandez is facing Alejandro Arsenio, brother of mayor Fred Arsenio.
Reelectionist Roberto Garcia Jr. is also challenging Lourdes Martin-Miraflores, wife of incumbent Aklan Cong. Florencio Miraflores, for Ibajay town mayoral seat.
In the town of New Washington, fiscal Edgar Peralta, brother of three-termer mayor Edmund Peralta, is pitted against former mayor and incumbent Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Eriberto Venus.
“The political activities of sympathizers and candidates of these towns are mostly likely to heat up before the May 14 elections. That is why, we would want to start the covenant signing to dissuade those individuals to create unusual scenarios in the barangays,” Tolentino claimed.