Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Koko: Shaddai backing a plus By Stephen Capillas
A CATHOLIC vote doesn't exist, though the presence of Church influence remains a persistent reality that non-Catholic candidates cannot ignore in this year's elections.
Senatorial aspirant Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said in response to reports that several senatorial candidates have been courting the support of religious groups to bolster their respective candidacies.
Pimentel's statement comes even as religious leaders of various faiths and denominations are scheduled to hold a "political forum" here in Cagayan de Oro this coming Sunday.
Meanwhile Pimentel, who was with fellow aspirants in the Genuine Opposition (GO) in last Wednesday's campaign rally in Cagayan de Oro, said groups like El Shaddai can somehow influence the course of a candidate's fortunes in the elections.
"Last time I heard the El Shaddai group is trimming its list of candidates it plans to endorse from 36 to 18 and the list may get smaller as May 14 approaches," Pimentel told local media.
Previously senatorial candidate Sergio "Sonny" Osmeña said the El Shaddai vote remains the most potent religious voting bloc in the country and added that it had delivered votes for his previous senatorial candidacies.
A national daily quoted Osmeña as having "belittled" the influence of other religious groups like the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and the Jesus is Lord (JIL) Movement in the elections, saying these groups don't vote as a united bloc.
Earlier Church-based groups here have preferred to adopt the neutral stance taken by the Catholic hierarchy in the national elections, as most of them limited their role to voter education and monitoring of the ballots.
A multi-sectoral group called Silingan Ka! formed in Cagayan de Oro is said to be taking a "transpartisan role" in the coming elections by encouraging voters to hold candidates accountable for their pledges in the campaign period.
On the other hand, various religious leaders will hold an Evangelical Convergence activity at the former Rizal Theater site in Capistrano streets this city.
Organizers said the event will be attended by at least 1,000 key evangelical leaders in the city and will review the respective programs of the various candidates in Cagayan de Oro for the first and second congressional districts.
