HomeNewsUrban poor settlers pray for ‘clean, honest’ elections in May

Urban poor settlers pray for ‘clean, honest’ elections in May

“Please use us, the people, to guard the Comelec, this very sacred branch of the government that is expected to defend and preserve the ballots and the election process"

Urban poor settlers held a march and a prayer rally outside the Commission on Elections (Comelec) building in Manila on Wednesday to pray for “clean and honest” elections in May.

The event was led by Father Robert Reyes, known for his advocacies for the poor, and Father Flaviano Villanueva, a Divine Word priest who has been working with victims of rights abuses.

Father Reyes prayed that the commissioners and staff of the poll body will be filled with “pure intentions, truth, and honesty.”



“Please use us, the people, to guard the Comelec, this very sacred branch of the government that is expected to defend and preserve the ballots and the election process from voting in the precincts to counting votes,” said the priest in his prayer.

Father Reyes said the prayer rally was a response to the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines to stand for truth in the coming national elections.

The priest said he expects that the “inter-agency task force against vote-buying” that was established by the Comelec will be effective in fighting “vote-buying” and “vote-selling” during the elections.

“Our prayer rally affirms the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines pastoral letter for May 9 polls,” said Father Reyes.

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“The Church encourages us not to give up on our search and defense for truth,” he said, adding that he believes that the Comelec “will persevere in overcoming evil by goodness.”

In a pastoral letter released on May 27, the country’s Catholic bishops called on the Filipino people to “fight indifference” especially during the elections.

“Let us participate and express ourselves in a just, respectful and peaceful manner,” read the pastoral letter.

“Let us especially be concerned for the welfare of our people and country,” said the Church leaders in the statement released ahead of the elections.

Father Flaviano ‘Flavie’ Villanueva crowns the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the prayer rally outside the Commission on Elections building in Manila on March 30, 2022. (Photo courtesy of the Urban Poor Associates)

The bishops noted that some “have always been mere spectators – unconcerned until they are personally affected.”

They then appealed to all the candidates, the political parties and supporters, the civil society and elections watchdogs to “bond together to ensure that the election is ‘Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful.’”

The bishops urged the voters to be always “on guard against the suspicious and dubious,” referring to those who spread lies, hatred, and those who manipulate people for their own personal gain.

They warned against those who take advantage of the poverty and vulnerability of the Filipinos “to acquire votes.”

“May we not forget: the welfare of all is everybody’s responsibility … Can we afford to be indifferent while our freedom and our future are at stake?” read the bishops’ statement.

“Each vote is important, so important that it is sought, bought or even stolen,” they said.

“When we sell our vote, we lose our voice and our decision. It is like giving up our freedom and our future,” said the Church leaders.

“Let us uphold and not compromise our moral principles in the task of political engagement and nation-building. Let us follow our conscience, striving to maintain an informed and correct conscience,” they said.

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