A voter places her ballot in a PCOS machine after voting at precint 169 of San Antonio High School in Makati City. INQUIRER FILE
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) has rallied the youth or the so-called millennials, to start scrutinizing the candidates in the upcoming 2019 midterm elections as early as now.
PPCRV co-founder and national chairperson Henrietta “Tita” de Villa reminded voters, especially first-time voter millennials to remember the “One Good Vote” and the “KKK.”
“Iproseso dapat ‘yung pagpili ng kandidato… wag basta ibase sa popularidad o sa name recall,” de Villa said over a Radyo Inquirer interview on Monday, adding that the PPCRV is set to launch an updated voters’ education module which can be accessed online.
(We should process our choices… do not base it solely on popularity or name recall.)
The “One Good Vote” according to PPCRV’s 2016 module, is a “grassroots and faith-impelled process,” an “enlightened vote,” and a “way to elect leaders for good governance and the common good.”
De Villa also said it’s important to study the “KKK” of a public official candidate. KKK stands for karakter (character), kakayahan (competency) and katapatan (honesty).
“Merong tendency ngayon na pinapalitan ‘yung nangyari sa kasaysayan… mahalagang alamin ano ba ‘yung naging role ng kandidato sa mabisang kasaysayan ng bansa,” she added.
(There is a tendency these days wherein history is being revised… that’s why it’s important to know the role of a candidate in the country’s history.)
The official of the election watchdog also warned social media users from campaign propaganda and “fake news” which can be propagated on social networking sites
“Napakahirap ngayon kung sino paniniwalaan eh. Kahit sa social media hindi mo na malaman kung ano ang totoo o ang fake news… Kaya mahalaga na i-validate ang news na natatanggap,” she said.
(It’s hard to discern who to trust. Even in social media, it’s hard to identify which is true or fake news… That’s why it’s important to validate the news we are receiving.)
The midterm election is scheduled for May 13, 2019, while the filing of the certificate of candidacy started last Thursday and will end on Wednesday.
The campaign period for senators and party-list groups will run from Feb. 12 to May 11, 2019, and between March 30, to May 11 for members of the House of Representatives and regional, provincial, city, and municipal officials, the Commission on Elections said. /cbb