A Catholic bishop in the central Philippines warned Filipino voters to be wary of candidates who resort to vote-buying during the election season.
Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan condemned alleged efforts by candidates to buy votes to ensure victory, particularly those who are running for national positions.
“Buying or selling votes to win an office is dishonest and defiles true democracy,” said Bishop Varquez in a pastoral letter.
He denounced local politicians who are allegedly in cahoots with national candidates to buy votes.
“They have become accomplices to an unspeakable crime and an evil deed that continues to cripple democracy and our dignity as a people,” he said.
The prelate urged voters not to exchange the country’s future and their children for money.
As Catholic Christians, he said voters “cannot be slaves to money politics” by buying or selling votes.
“If we are to be slaves, we must be ‘slaves to God’, not to money or corrupt politics,” said Bishop Varquez.
“We must show our love of country by not allowing the unscrupulous among us to destroy not only our democracy but also our relationships and the future of our young,” he added.
The prelate’s pastoral letter also outlined the qualities of leaders that voters must look for in candidates according to the Church’s teachings.
These include candidates who are “pro-God, pro-people/poor, pro-country, pro-truth, competent, pro-environment and pro-law.”
“Do not vote for candidates who do not meet these qualities, even when they offer big money,” Bishop Varquez said.
“The money they will collect later from our public funds will dwarf anything they may give you now,” he said. – from a CBCP News report
