Philippine Church leaders continue to remind the Filipino faithful that their vote in next year’s elections is “sacred” and should not be wasted on the wrong candidates.
The religious leaders made the statements as candidates for next year’s polls file their certificates of candidacy this week.
“Our vote is sacred and is a gift,” said Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, national director of Caritas Philippines. “Whoever we vote for is a gift the we leave for future generations,” he said over Church-run Veritas 846.
Bishop Julito Cortes of Dumaguete, meanwhile, expressed his prayer for all candidates that they may be “genuinely concerned about the welfare of our people and are sincere in their desire” to serve.
The bishop asked voters in a separate radio interview to choose the right leaders because the future of the country depends on their choices next year.
“The future of our communities as well as of our country is at stake,” he said.
“We, therefore, cannot afford to vote into office candidates who are corrupt, who have no respect for human life and for human rights, and those who have no regard for our environment,” said Bishop Cortes.
“To vote wrongly is to lament surely the dark years that shall loom ahead of us,” he added.
He said his diocese will be conducting voters’ education seminars in parishes “to enlighten communities” on various election issues and choices.
The bishop said that it is important for the Church to be active in guiding the faithful to choose not only leaders who are wise but are also “pro-God” and “pro-people.”
“Let us choose candidates who are capable, wise, and upright. Our people deserve no less,” he said.
Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Taytay stressed the importance of a person’s dedication to the family in the choice of leaders.
“One thing that we should ask in a candidate is how is his family? If he is not honest with his family, will he be honest with his promises?” said the bishop.
Bishop Pabillo cited the issue of divorce that has been proposed in Congress in recent months.
“We know what happened to other countries because of divorce. Families have not be stabilized. Many have separated, more women at children faced difficulties in life,” he said.
“The separations have affected a lot of children. Societies have been weakened because of divorce,” said the prelate.
Aspirants for 77 national positions, including the presidency, 12 senate seats, and 63 party-list representatives have until October 8 to file their certificates of candidacy.
More than 18,000 positions in the provincial down to the municipal governments will also be up for grabs across the country.
