The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) through its President, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, commended the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for "working towards a truly credible election-one that is not only honest, orderly, and peaceful but is also perceived as such."
Archbishop Villegas pressed Catholic voters to choose candidates who were "truly upright, respectful of the dignity of all, and compassionate towards the poor". He similarly reminded the faithful that the "use of violence, vote-buying, and cheating in elections were incompatible with Christian values".
"We pray and urge the COMELEC to be strict and scrupulous in following the safeguards provided by law towards this goal," Archbishop Villegas stated in his message entitled "Eucharistic Action in the Electoral Process" posted on his official Facebook page last February 5, 2016.
For his part, Chairman Bautista said he was glad to hear that the Commission's objective of achieving credible elections in May 2016 and advocacy on 'tamang pagboto' resonated with the CBCP. He was likewise invited to address the CBCP plenary session last January 23, 2016 where he discussed updates on preparations for the upcoming elections.
"We need to start using elections as our main mechanism to exact accountability from politicians. If voters demand more substance and concrete solutions from politicians, the country stands to benefit in the long-term, unlike when people sell their votes for small monetary and momentary rewards," Bautista shared.
Bautista reiterated as well the Commission's commitment to use the full force of the law to ensure that every ballot cast on May 09, 2016 would be counted correctly. But he also underscored the importance of vigilant citizen monitoring. "As we strive hard to do our part, we also ask the public to remain vigilant in guarding their votes. Register your dissent or approval of government through the ballot. Things may not change overnight but you can make the system work for you, the people, by electing leaders who have the character and skills to improve your lives," added Bautista.
Chairman Bautista assured the Catholic Church and other stakeholders that apart from the goal of achieving credible elections, the Commission would work tirelessly toward making the electoral process inclusive so that results truly reflected the will of the people.###
Source: Education and Information Department