Church to host election summit

THE Archdiocese of Cebu, with the Comelec and the Department of Education (DepEd), will hold a summit to discuss reforms needed to ensure credible elections in Cebu.

The Summit on Credible Cebu Elections 2013 will be held at the Cebu Mariner’s Court near Pier 1, Cebu City from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow.

In his invitation to different groups, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said that the summit will “endeavor to forge maximum unity in embracing electoral advocacy and in implementing the needed concrete strategies for electoral reforms.”

Msgr. Romualdo Kintanar, convenor of the Archdiocesan Discernment Group, said in a press conference that the speakers during the summit will include Palma, Visayas Clergy Discernment Group Head Convenor Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro and Commission on Elections (Comelec) 7 Director Temie Lambino.

Kintanar said that they are expecting 1,000 participants, including election officers, DepEd supervisors, the Cebu clergy, youth leaders, the academe, policemen, media, local government officials, business leaders and members of religious-based communities.

“We will have workshops on vote-buying, electoral rules violations and irregularities, political dynasty and sectoral agenda,” Kintanar said.

After the summit, Kintanar said, they will encourage parishes in cities and towns to conduct a similar activity with the aim to educate the voters of what to do during election and whom to vote.

Lawyer Eddie Aba, Cebu provincial election supervisor, said they invited some candidates and political parties to attend the summit so they can share their platforms with the other summit participants.

“We want the coming election to be credible and we thank the Archdiocese of Cebu and DepEd for initiating this summit,” Aba said.

Ida Cabantan, who represented DepEd 7 Director Carmelita Dulangon in the press conference on the summit, stressed that teachers are non-partisan and they are committed to ensure credible elections on May 13.