Church to OFWs: Vote for ‘honest, helpful, industrious’ bets like you
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2019 07:28:02 +0000
THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) advised overseas Filipino voters to weigh the candidates in the midterm elections in May against the values that are important to them.
“It is always a reminder to our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that they have to look in themselves before electing their candidates, that is, those whom they will vote must be like them,” Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, CBCP-ECMI chairman, said on Sunday.
He said that the common values of OFWs were honesty, helpfulness and industriousness.
“OFWs are honest, hardworking and helpful to others. So decide on candidates who are honest, who will not steal nor tainted with graft and corruptions,” the bishop said.
“They should vote for candidates who will really work hard for them, those who are after their well-being and will not side and work only for certain persons, not for [a] particular party and not for personal benefits,” the bishop said.
In an apparent swipe at legislators and senatorial hopefuls who are death penalty advocates, Santos said OFWs must vote for those who would “really help our fellowmen to improve, promote and preserve life.”
“Not those candidates who suppress life nor destroy life. Elect those who will help take care of your balikbayan boxes, create jobs here for you and help you to promote your rights and dignity,” Santos said.
Members of the Catholic Church, like civil servants, are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activities.
Dioceses last week banned the posting of campaign paraphernalia in the church premises.
Based on the Commission on Elections’ January 10, 2019 data, there are a total of 1.8 million registered overseas Filipino voters. This is higher than the 1 million recorded in the 2016 elections.
At leas 887,686 came from the Middle East Africa; 401,390 from Asia; 345, 418 from the North and Latin America; and 187,621 from Europe.
The national and local elections are set on May 13, 2019.
The 90-day election period for the national posts started on Feb. 12, 2019 and will end on May 11, 2019.
Sixty-two hopefuls are vying for 12 slots in the Senate. CATHERINE A. MODESTO
The post Church to OFWs: Vote for ‘honest, helpful, industrious’ bets like you appeared first on The Manila Times Online.