A group of Catholic and Protestant bishops on Thursday, April 21, endorsed the candidacies of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan for president and vice president, respectively, in the coming national elections.
In a statement, the Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum (EBF) said that, “as a collegial body of Church leaders,” the candidacies of Robredo, Pangilinan, and 12 candidates for senator.
The bishops said they made their choices after doing “a close perusal of the values, character and qualifications” of the candidates and “after due diligence in prayer and discernment.”
The prelates said that “a track record of public service, moral ascendancy, upright character, advocacy for just peace, compassion for the poor and the needy, defense for human rights and environmental/ecological justice, honesty and integrity, and upholding political and economic sovereignty are qualifications of good shepherd-leader.”
The statement was signed by Bishop Ciriaco Q. Francisco, EBF co-chairperson; Rev. Emelyn Gasco-Dacuycuy, co-chairperson; Rev. Dindo de la Cruz Ranojo, General Secretary; Bishop Joel E. Tendero; and Bishop Emeritus Deogracias S. Iniguez Jr.
“Our Christian faith exhorts us to be discerning in choosing the candidates to elect in public office,” read the bishops’ statement.
“Let us become enlightened voters and elect the candidates whose values, character and qualifications resemble the good shepherd,” the added.
The EBF endorsed the following senatorial candidates:
- Neri Colmenares
- Sonny Matula
- Elmer “Bong” Labog
- Chel Diokno
- Leila De Lima
- Alex Lacson
- Alex Espiritu
- Risa Hontiveros
- Teodoro “Teddy” Baguilat
- Chiz Escudero
- Jejomar Binay
- Richard Gordon
The Church leaders said that “while these candidates are not perfect individuals, they are the best among the candidates.”
“To our evaluation, they meet the standard and possess the qualities of good shepherds. Let us vote for them,” read the bishops’ statement, adding that the paramount obligation of all elected public officials is “to serve the people faithfully, honestly and wholeheartedly, never to lord over them.”
