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Thursday, April 22, 2004
Next prexy must possess '3Cs': CBCP
By Marie Neri
MANILA -- Competence, conscience and commitment.
These are three qualities that voters should look for in a candidate running in the May 10 elections as contained in a pastoral statement titled "Nation Building Through Elections" issued by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
CBCP president Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla said the forthcoming elections is important because it will determine the country's future and therefore it is essential that the next leader of the country should also possess the necessary criteria.
A candidate must have competence, meaning he or she should have professional qualifications and record of governance, Capalla said.
Poe, the closest rival of President Arroyo, is a high school dropout who also does not have any experience in local or national governance.
Capalla also said the next President should possess concrete programs of action on family and life, environment, illegal drugs and gambling, justice peace and order, poverty alleviation, education as well as having a clear conscience, personal integrity and transparency.
However, the CBCP president said the voting public should not only concentrate on election day itself since it is equally imperative to monitor the activities of the candidates that have been chosen and elected after May 10.
"Beyond the elections, there is the greater challenge for all citizens to continue monitoring winning candidates in order to ensure transparency, accountability and people empowerment for good governance," Capalla said.
"So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for all we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity for the good of all," he added.
Capalla expressed support for various election watchdogs and their importance to the election process.
"We highly endorse citizens' group such as PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Namfrel (National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) and others to work closely with the Comelec (Commission on Elections), the military and the PNP, and public school teachers in maintaining a neutral and non-partisan role in ensuring the electoral process," Capalla said.
Capalla reminded voters to do away with vote buying or selling their votes. (Sunnex Luzon)
(April 22, 2004 issue)
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