Monday, April 30, 2007 Costly campaigns worry Church
THE Archdiocese of Cebu considers too much spending by election candidates on campaign materials as “not a good sign” on how they would serve and govern later on.
Through the weekly Bag-ong Lungsoranon, the archdiocese said “too much expense for the campaign and using all sorts of influence, with vote-buying topping the list, are forms of dirt that affect the country in such a way that corruption in the government can no longer be treated.”
“We cannot deny that the result of a very expensive campaign…is corruption in the government…(because candidates earn) from budget allocation for activities to make up for the money used during their campaign,” the archdiocese said.
It also challenged the people to reject politicians who excessively spend for their campaign materials and place them anywhere.
“Despite reminders from the Commission on Elections on the restrictions on campaign materials, numerous posters have mushroomed on the walls of the city, mocking the Comelec,” it added.
The archdiocese said the campaign of the Church, media and advocacy groups for Filipinos to gain political maturity and exercise their right of suffrage is not enough if the people continue to condone corruption. “Remember that elected officials did not force us to vote for them. They were only influencing and trying to convince us, and we agreed.”
Meanwhile, following Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal’s challenge for the faithful to continue praying and doing divine deeds, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) declared May 5 to 14 as days of prayer.
It urged all parishes in the country to devote 10 days of prayer for the May 14 elections’ success.
“To ensure credible results, we call on everyone in the church and in civil society, and on all participating groups and parties, to champion the cause of democratic elections, by ensuring it will be clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful,” said CBCP president Angel Lagdameo in his pastoral letter.
He dared all Filipinos to “disapprove, reject, and condemn as immoral all acts of violence and cheating, including the evil of vote-padding and shaving (dagdag-bawas) in favor of or against any candidate.”
“Let us accompany with extreme vigilance and prayer the crucial period of campaigning, voters’ education, transporting of election paraphernalia, poll watching, and canvassing and reporting of the votes,” Lagdameo said.
Cebu Archbishop Vidal earlier urged Cebuanos to “pray that candidates find joy in truly working for the Filipino people’s better future, and that voters derive happiness from having a clear and clean conscience before, during and after the May 14 elections.” (NRC)
