Recto urges candidates to cool it
Counsels bets not to succumb to rising temperatures

Senator Ralph Recto has urged all candidates from whatever political party to exercise greater charity and shun violence, noting that winning elections at the cost of so many lives is no triumph at all.

Recto's statement came in the heels of the shooting incident in Jaen, Nueva Ecija in which two people were killed and 17 people were wounded last Thursday and the fatal shooting of a congressional candidate in North Cotabato on Saturday.

Expressing sympathy for the victims, Recto said "reason and compassion should be foremost in the minds of contenders and I ask all candidates to treat the campaign as a friendly competition, not a hostile contest."

The senator explained "our people do not want more funerals at this stage and it would be a pity for Philippine democracy if all the platforms used in political rallies end up becoming venues for violence."

"Candidates must speak on their programs not be eulogized," he said.

Recto added that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) acted wisely when Chairman Benjamin Abalos declared the province of Nueva Ecija under Comelec control following the shootout on Thursday.

Recto noted that the rising temperatures should not overwhelm us, stressing that "political contests are simply contests that should allow everyone to ventilate issues, offer voters new ideas and usher in rational choice among voters who must weigh the platforms of candidates."

He explained to all candidates that a climate of fear "is the worst enemy of honest, clean and credible elections."

Recto welcomed the assurance given by the PNP brass to immediately solve election-related crimes wherever they happen and whoever the involved parties may be.