Running priest calls for end to political dynasties
BREAKING NEWS
Activist priest Fr. Robert Reyes, a voice for justice and a clean and decent Philippines, called for "just and fair" elections in Olongapo City May 5th by running in the city's main thoroughfares and addressed the crowd, mostly young people, gathered at the Rizal Triangle Park.
Sta
rting
from Barrio Barretto, he ran to the city proper stopping along the way
to appeal for an end to c
heating
and violence. A short political skit tackling the issues of traditional
politics and political dynasties was presented by the youth organization
AKBAY (Aksyon ng mga Bata at Kabataan Para sa Bayan) at each stops. At
one point while performing in front of the city hall, an employee tried
to stop the youth group from staging the skit and said it was a direct
attack against the incumbent mayor who is now
running for congress.
Hundreds participated in the run following the public announcement of the Philippines' three most senior archbishops that the COMELEC needs the prayers and encouragement of the Church to conduct free and fair elections. Father Robert Reyes is putting this into practice and hopes to arouse a demoralized populace that has long endured cheating, election fraud, and vote manipulation that has kept the same dynastic families and traditional politicians regaining office election after election.
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In a statement, Fr. Robert Reyes said "the Gordons have been in Olongapo for more than 40 years. They will stay and continue to strengthen and solidify their control of Olongapo unless something is done to alter, correct and regulate the clout of political families or dynasties" and added that "the Gordons are not eternal, God and the Common Good are."
(END)
