A group of ecumenical Church leaders urged the Philippines’ Commission on Elections (Comelec) to immediately release the decision on the case to disqualify candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from the presidential elections in May.
“The main point at hand is the timely adjudication of the evidence and facts of a particular consolidated case seeking to disqualify Marcos Jr. from candidacy,” read a statement released by One Voice.
“We, leaders of One Voice, join the stand for truth and urge the Comelec to release their decision before the retirement of Commissioner (Rowena) Guanzon to avoid any appearance that the intention is to stifle her opinion,” read the group’s statement dated February 1.
Guanzon, who complained about the supposed delay in the release of the poll body’s decision, was set to retire on Wednesday, February 2. She earlier claimed that the decision on the case to disqualify Marcos Jr. is being purposefully delayed to remove her voice from the case.
“Furthermore, we urge an investigation into rumors and reports that politicking was behind the delay in the release of the decision,” read the Church leaders’ statement, saying that they “believe that truth is a light of hope.”
They said that “the gathering of evidence and discernment of facts is essential in making decisions in the best interest of the Filipino people and our democracy.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic must not delay justice; but even more, the Comelec should rise to the dignity of judgment, where ‘justice is blind’ and based on the truth that is presented,” said the Church leaders.
They said that the “undue delay” puts the people’s hope and trust in the democratic processes at risk. “The integrity of our democracy, and our people’s confidence in it, is on the line,” said the Church leaders.
The group is led by Catholic and Protestant bishops Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, Reuel Norman Marigza of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Rhee Timbang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Emergencio Padillo of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, and Joel Tendero of the Ecumenical Bishops Forum.
The other signatories of the statement are Brother Armin Luistro, FSC of the Lasallian East Asia District, Sister Rowena Pineda, MMS of the Sisters Association of Mindanao, and Sister Ma. Lisa Ruedas, DC of her congregation’s Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation body.
