MANILA, Philippines -- Aside from their usual call on the laity to vote wisely, Catholic Church leaders are encouraging good and competent persons to run for public office in the May 2010 presidential and national elections.

“We call upon those who are competent, persons of integrity and (persons) committed to change to get involved directly in principled partisan politics and become candidates for political election, aware that the common good is above the good of vested interests,” the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said in its latest pastoral statement dated July 12.

The CBCP issued the statement at the conclusion of its two-day plenary assembly in which they elected a new set of officers led by Bishop Nereo Odchimar of Tandag, Surigao del Sur, as the incoming CBCP president by December 1.

The bishops, however, were silent on observations that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was planning to run for a Congressional seat representing Pampanga to get a chance to be voted as prime minister if her allies in the House of Representatives succeed to amend the Constitution.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who read the CBCP's pastoral statement at a press conference on Monday, said the bishops did not discuss Arroyo's purported congressional bid during the plenary assembly.

“We can not stop her from running again, that would be her choice. Nothing stops her under the law, but let's look at the delicadeza. That would give the impression that she would like to remain in power,” Pabillo said.

He hastened to add: “I don't know if that is correct.”

Pabillo sidestepped the question whether Arroyo could count herself among the people the good and principled people the bishops were encouraging to run for public office.

“We're encouraging principled people. Kayo na mag-isip (You figure it out) who are the principled people,” he said.