The head of the social action arm of the Philippine Catholic Church reminded candidates for local elective posts to abide by election rules as the period for local campaigns starts on Friday, March 25.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, Caritas Philippines national director, urged politicians “to be better examples of local politics.”
The prelate said that “if we want to improve the conduct of our elections, our candidates need to do the necessary, and that’s ensuring they first respect and abide by the election laws.”
The Commission on Elections prohibit the following acts during the campaign period:
- vote buying or selling
- removal or destruction of any lawful election material
- display of campaign materials outside authorized areas
- provision or receipt of transportation and food during campaign sorties
- campaigning during Holy Week or after the campaign period
Comelec rules also remind candidates to follow COVID-19 preventive health and safety protocols during events, properly identify campaign materials, and indicate the name of donors or payors of all election propaganda materials.
Bishop Bagaforo advised candidates to “be mindful of plastic wastes, campaign with clear platforms and programs, observe decency, de quorum, and Comelec rules, and respect one another by avoiding violence.”
He said that “as a virtue, kindness can bring more meaning to victory, than hitting each other below the belt.”
The prelate of Kidapawan likewise prompted candidates to evoke the golden rule: do not do unto others, what you do not want others do unto you.
Caritas Philippines, though its networks – Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, Halalang Marangal 2022, Power of Purple, and I Vote God – is working with 85 Diocesan Social Action Centers to ensure clean, honest, accurate, meaningful, and peaceful election come May 9, 2022.
