MANILA (UCAN): Caritas Philippines launched a coalition of faith-based and Catholic organisations on September 28, committed to fight for clean, accurate, responsible and transparent elections in 2022.
The Philippines is set to elect a new president and vice president in May next year. On October 2, the incumbent president, Rodrigo Duterte, announced that he would not run for the vice-presidency claiming he was done with politics.
Called Halalang Marangal 2022 [Honorable elections 2022], the coalition said it aims to prevent election fraud, vote buying and the manipulation of public opinion through fake news.
Coalition members include groups such as the Christian Businessmen and Professionals, De La Salle Brothers Philippines, Network for Justice and Compassion and the Philippine Misereor Partnership.
In a veiled swipe at Duterte, they said the manipulation of voters through fake reports on social media, is a serious threat which needs to be countered.
Duterte has been accused of using social media trolls to spread fake news to malign his opponents on the internet. The coalition said it intended to educate the electorate at a time when social media takes on more importance because of the pandemic.
“Although the objectives are the same and some of the names and faces have changed [compared to other coalitions], the basic difference of this coalition will be the use of media, especially social media at this time,” said Philip Juico, from the Network for Justice and Compassion.
‘If there are attempts to malign a candidate using fake news, we will rebut such black propaganda with facts. There are no alternative facts here. Just facts’
Philip Juico
Juico said the battleground for clean elections had changed from radio and television to the Internet.
“Because social media has been weaponised in the wrong way by certain parties, the coalition will be using social media in a right, virtuous and upright way,” he added.
The coalition has formed a “truth army” composed of volunteers who will combat fake news by presenting true facts about the candidates in the 2022 polls.
“If there are attempts to malign a candidate using fake news, we will rebut such black propaganda with facts. There are no alternative facts here. Just facts,” Juico added.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Caritas Philippines chief, Bishop Jose Collin Bagaforo, urged people to join the coalition to ensure a “brighter” future for coming generations.
“We [church groups] need to share the burden of managing and administering the electoral exercise with the Commission on Elections,” Bishop Bagaforo told Catholic-run Radyo Veritas on September 28.
‘Our votes … are a mirror of our moral values, what we hold dear as a nation. If we love democracy and the rule of law, if they are valuable to us, it must be shown in our votes’
Bishop Bagaforo
“We need to help fill gaps in the entire process, help explain how automated systems work and reinforce trust and confidence, now at an all-time low, in elections,” the bishop said.
He said social media influence has become a new reality in politics today.
“Our social responsibility has extended to social media. We have this special responsibility in times of serious moral, economic, health, food security, livelihood and leadership crises,” he said, adding, “Apathy and indifference are unforgivable and jeopardise our democracy and help perpetuate godless values.”
Bishop Bagaforo told Radyo Veritas: “Our votes reflect our values. It is an expression and affirmation of our human dignity, a foundational principle of Catholic social teaching,” and challenged people to vote responsibly saying the results would reveal the “true” identity of the Filipino people.
Bishop Bagaforo warned, “Our votes … are a mirror of our moral values, what we hold dear as a nation. If we love democracy and the rule of law, if they are valuable to us, it must be shown in our votes.”
The bishop invited everyone to join the coalition saying that its ideals “are the antidote to the lies and dishonesty that many would attempt in the next elections.”
He also encouraged young Catholics to keep their idealism and their minds pure for the common good.
“To all young voters, voting is a gift to the people and we need to use this as gift to the country,” he added. “It is a fulfillment of one’s responsibility to participate in and influence the social, political affairs of our nation.”
Bishop Bagaforo gave several pointers to what voters should look for among candidates in next year’s polls, noting, “The country deserves leaders with servants’ hearts. We need a working servant leader with competence, experience, compassion, kindness, passion and perseverance.”
The bishop pointed out that “a functioning leader provides direction and inspires God’s family to work tirelessly to improve the condition of all Filipinos with preferential attention to the marginalised and excluded.”
