NAGLABAS na ang maimpluwensiyang Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) ng isang pastoral letter nitong Linggo para sa halalan sa bansa na nakatakdang idaos sa Mayo 9, 2022.
Sa naturang pastoral letter, na nilagdaan ni CBCP president at Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, nanawagan ito sa mga botante at mga kandidato na huwag bumili at magbenta ng boto dahil ito aniya ay seryosong pagkakasala sa Panginoon.
“Each vote is important, so important that it is sought, bought and even stolen. Our vote is our voice and decision. When we sell our vote, we lose our voice and decision. It is like giving up our freedom and our future,” ayon pa kay David.
“We should be reminded that taking advantage of the poverty and vulnerability of people in order to acquire votes or advance one’s selfish gain is a serious offense against God,” aniya pa.
Umapela rin naman ang CBCP sa publiko, mga kandidato at iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan na magtulungan upang matiyak na ang nalalapit na halalan ay magiging Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful (CHAMP), at Safe, Accurate, Fair Election (SAFE).
Samantala, hinimok naman ni Dilaab Philippines chairman Fr. Victor Carmelo Diola ang mga botante na ipatupad ang “LASER test” sa mga kandidato, base sa kanilang ‘Lifestyle, Accomplishments, Support they are getting, Election conduct, and Reputation.’
“Itong LASER test, these are concrete indicators of what it means to be maka-Diyos, maka-tao, makabayan, maka-kalikasan,” ayon kay Diola. (ANDOY RAPSING)
