Protecting poll's sanctity from political violence

With the campaign period now starting to go full blast, authorities are hoping that the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections would go down in history as one of the most peaceful and orderly balloting ever held in the country.

Days after the filing of candidacy, covenant signings were everywhere in the country as candidates pledged not to resort to violence. Across Cebu, authorities have initiated forums for candidates to remind them of the need to follow poll guidelines and regulations.

With less than 10 days before the big day, it remains to be seen whether those barangay candidates are truly committed to adhere to the rules for a peaceful election. It cannot be denied that many rivals are sworn political enemies who have been running against each other during every election.

Election in the barangay is different from other electoral exercises in the country since it is only concentrated in a small area. As the smallest local government unit, candidates know each other very well, the reason why emotions always run high during their rivalry.

However, it is also due to the closeness of candidates why violence would sometimes erupt because of the intense competition spawned by the passion to win. This adds to the fact that barangay posts are among the most hotly-contested elective positions given their little financial cost, unlike running for mayor and municipal or city councilor.

For decades, electoral exercises in the country have always been bloody. And the violence even extends to snuffing out innocent lives that have nothing to do with the political rivalry and that are just caught in the crossfire.

Remember the Maguindanao Massacre last November 23, 2009 in which most of the victims were journalists and supporters of a gubernatorial candidate who was going against a powerful clan in Mindanao?

We do hope that those candidates signing the peace covenant will adhere to their vow of making the coming election peaceful, clean, and honest. There's really a need to protect the sanctity of the electoral process from political violence.