CBCP calls for credible, orderly polls
THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is determined to ensure that this year’s elections will be credible and free of violence.
This year’s elections will be critical, according to the CBCP, as the country cannot afford another election plagued by allegations of violence and deceit.
“Many of our current political problems, which have hindered fuller economic development and social justice, especially for the poor, can be traced to unresolved questions concerning the conduct of past elections,” Bishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president, said in a pastoral letter released yesterday after the CBCP’s 94th plenary assembly.
Many groups have expressed doubts whether this year’s elections will be credible, saying that unless the issues of the 2004 presidential elections are resolved, this year’s elections will only lead to a deepening political crisis.
“As a nation, we cannot afford yet another controversial electoral exercise that further aggravates social distrust and hopelessness,” Lagdameo added.
The “Hello, Garci” scandal, reported irregularities in the number of registered voters and tallied votes, and allegedly fabricated election returns are among the issues that remain unresolved.
The CBCP is calling for the mobilization of its parish organizations, institutions and basic ecclesial communities to make sure that the elections are credible and orderly. The pastoral letter also encouraged these groups to “form linkages with one another and with other like-minded civic and religious associations that are working to help clean the dirt from our easily corrupted electoral process.”
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting has begun its education campaign. It has also been accredited as a poll-watcher by the Commission on Elections.
Other civil society groups have launched a campaign to monitor election expenditures by candidates in selected races throughout the country.