SANTO DOMINGO.- Ten candidates to Dominican Republic’s Presidency separately signed the "Social, political commitment for education" yesterday, specifically pledging to comply with the law that consigns 4% of the Gross Domestic Product for that sector, applicable starting 2013, and vowed to progressively increase it in their four year term.

The unprecedented event comes after months of protests and vigils by the Four Percent for Education Coalition, a grass roots movement of more than 300 civil society organizations whose members sustained police brutality and ridicule even by the prestigious editor in chief of the country’s only afternoon newspaper, who called them “a flock of sheep.”

Opposition PRD party candidate Hipólito Mejia was the first to arrive and sign in the Santo Domingo Catholic University auditorium, followed be Pelegrín Castillo, of the minority pro government FNP, and then Max Puig, also of the pro government APD.

Julian Serulle, of the opposition Extended Front, arrived at 11:45 a.m., followed by Guillermo Moreno, of the also opposition Country Alliance, who said he felt "shame" for having to pledge something already established by law.

At 1:15 p.m. it was Eduardo Estrella’s turn, of the opposition Dominican X Change, followed by Jorge Radhamés Zorrilla, of the opposition PCR, while Jose Miguel Soto, of the opposition V Republic, signed at 2:30 p.m.

Bringing up the rear were Ismael Reyes, of the opposition PDI, signed the pact at 3 p.m., and finally, Danilo Medina, of the ruling PLD party, at 3:30 p.m.