CBCP chief: End political dynasties, reject corrupt

Archbishop Socrates Villegas,head of the Catholic Bishops Conference
of the Philippines on Friday urged Filipinos to use their votes to “end
political dynasties” and reject “the notoriously corrupt” in next year’s
national election.

In a statement marking the early start of the Church’s voters education
campaign, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) also said “a person who aspires for high office but
who, because of inexperience, will be totally dependent on advisers is
not the best possible candidate for national positions.”

“The exercise of the right of suffrage is not only a political right, it
is also a moral obligation,” said the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan,
adding that he was starting the voters education campaign so it cannot
be said that “the efforts of the Church and other nonpolitical groups to
educate voters come too late.”

“While politicians plan and strategize, and, this early, find ways of
circumventing the law against premature campaigning, the Church cannot
be remiss in its obligation of forming the consciences of Catholic and
Christian voters.”

“It is the reason for this letter, this early, so that it may never be
again said that we spoke too late,” Villegas said.

His advise to voters:

“Do not vote for family members running for the same positions as family
members before them to perpetrate the family’s hold on public office,”
he said, adding that the Christian voter should prudently choose others
who may have equal if not superior abilities and competencies for the
position.

“There is no monopoly on ability for government, and truly no one in
government is indispensable,” Villegas stressed.

The statement, however, did not name names. It cautioned voters not to
“readily jump on the bandwagon of condemnation in the absence of
incontrovertible evidence.”

Villegas lamented that one’s reputation could be easily tarnished by the
work of “spin-doctors” in the payroll of one or the other political
aspirant.

However, Villegas stressed that the public should be willing to trust
those who are “capable of leading and serving with probity, high above
suspicion, and with skill, competence and wisdom that comes from abiding
faith.

Villegas urged Filipinos to vote for the right reasons and not to sell
their votes.

“Vote, not because you have been paid, or promised bounty, not because
you or your relatives have been promised employment or privilege but
because you trust a person to lead the community and to lead the
country. Just as the discerning voter will not be easily won over by all
the flattery in favor of one candidate, neither should a voter allow
‘demolition jobs’ to dissuade him from choosing a person who is truly
fit for office,” he said.