The four bishops of Negros Island in a collegial statement released Friday, April 8, called for the election of accountable and honest leaders in the May 9 polls.
“Claim ownership of the electoral process by exercising your rights to vote and to choose leaders who are competent, transparent, and who prioritize the people and the environment over profit and power”, they said.
Bishops Gerardo A. Alminaza of San Carlos, Louie P. Galbines of Kabankalan, Patricio A. Buzon of Bacolod, and Julito B. Cortes of Dumaguete were among the signatories of the collegial statement.
“We pray that the unified voices of the Filipinos for accountable and honest leadership give birth to true progress. This is our chance to be heard,” they said.
They envision a government that is rooted in faith and oriented towards the values of compassion and respect, the statement said.
“We aspire for a government that respects and implements due process as it upholds fairness and justice in its implementation of the law,” it added.
The signatories of the statement said they demand leaders who are:
*Committed public servants who are honest and transparent in establishing a government that is pro-poor, pro-people and pro-environment;
*Devoid of any hidden agenda that compromises our integrity as a nation and as a Filipino people;
*Competent and upholds scientific approaches in addressing national concerns;
*Firm but compassionate;
*Listening to people and their context, in touch with the situation of the poorest of the poor and the environment:
*Initiating and supporting legislations that promote inclusivity in gender, disability, and socio-economic status;
*Advocating women and youth empowerment:
*Opposed to developmental projects that contribute to the climate crisis:
*Persons with integrity, respecting the sanctity of life, and upholding human rights; and
*Patriots in their defense of the sovereignty of our nation and the integrity of our natural resources against foreign encroachment.
They also called on voters to:
*Be responsible and empower yourselves by becoming well-informed of your choices through legitimate sources of information, through facts and not fakes;
*Be people of integrity by protecting the sanctity of your votes and not relegating it to economic consideration by selling them or allowing them to be bought;
*Be active participants in the electoral process by mobilizing a movement to lobby for integral ecology and eco-ethical development among candidates; and
*Be fully aware that true power in this democracy resides in the people.
They also said the dioceses recognize the importance of the upcoming election in shaping future engagements in dealing with the climate crisis, knowing full well the power and influence elected leaders can contribute to saving the ecological patrimony or on the contrary.
“May all the voters and candidates alike take responsibility for the outcome of this electoral process as we discern the full weight that this historic event will place on our country’s future,” they added.*