Voters told: Start screening 2013 bets

THE 2013 polls are still eight months away but it would be best if voters would assess the candidates this early.

This was the message of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) to voters to coincide with the start of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday.

“Voters, this early, must know the candidates well in order for their selection to be informed, principled, and responsible,” said PPCRV chairperson Henrietta de Villa.

She said the public should make use of the information age in determining the qualifications of the aspiring candidates.

“What the PPCRV suggests is for voters to find out already which politicians filed their COCs, for what position, and then start researching about them,” de Villa said.

She added that among the things voters should look for are track record, business and religious affiliation, any trace of corruption or violence, capabilities for position he filed for, and integrity.

From Monday to Friday, the Comelec is going to accept COCs for all aspiring candidates for the next midterm elections.

The PPCRV is a parish-based movement affiliated with the Catholic Church that is concerned with a goal of promoting credible, honest, accurate, and peaceful elections.

The group has been repeatedly accredited as the citizens’ arm of the Comelec, more prominently in helping the latter in the voters’ education campaign. (HDT/Sunnex)