MANILA (UCAN): Bishop Kolin Bagaforo of Kidapawan, the national director of Caritas Philippines, called on all candidates in the upcoming national elections in May to be upholders of law and order and not to seek office by employing illegal means.
“If we want to improve the conduct of our elections, our candidates need to do what is necessary, and that’s ensuring they first respect and abide by the election laws,” Bishop Bagaforo said in a March 24 statement released by Caritas Philippines.
Bishop Bagaforo said he was distressed to hear reports that certain candidates were allegedly violating election laws by vote buying and threatening supporters of their rivals.
The bishop said the reports were very alarming, adding that such activities were dishonest and undermined democracy.
One such report appeared on March 16 when online news portal, Rappler, claimed that supporters of presidential frontrunner, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., distributed white envelopes containing money at a campaign rally in Nueva Ecija province. Each envelope allegedly contained 500 pesos [$74].
The Marcos camp denied vote buying, claiming it was part of a provincial distribution of a financial assistance programme that coincided with the rally.
Bishop Bagaforo said candidates must possess good virtues because people will look up to them once they assume office, stressing that virtue is not a qualification of a public servant under the law, but that politicians should be men and women of virtue and good candidate must not be underhanded and avoid promoting violence.
“Observe decency and the rules of the Commission on Elections, and respect one another by avoiding violence,” Bishop Bagaforo said.
Several Caritas members, however, said the bishop’s call was easier said than done, especially when people faced hunger and poverty.
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“Of course, everyone wants to have clean and honest elections. But the truth is that when hunger strikes, when people start losing their jobs, getting money from politicians would always be welcome,” said a Caritas member in Manila who wished to remain anonymous.
