Church group’s Senate bets: 9 opposition, 1 independent

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A Catholic Church leader has urged the faithful to use the remaining days of the campaign period to rally behind mostly opposition senatorial candidates endorsed by lay leaders.

These candidates got the backing of lay leaders for their principles and for having the common good in mind, said Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

Deserving

Pabillo said since lay leaders, belonging to the People’s Choice Movement (PCM), had already done their part in helping people choose their next leaders, it was now the responsibility of the faithful to ensure that these “deserving candidates” were elected to the Senate.

“Now is the task for all the lay faithful to campaign for the deserving candidates so as to counter the money and the political machinery that the trapo (traditional politicians) are using,” Pabillo said.

“There are still two months for all to do this particular exercise of the Christian faith,” he said.

PCM, composed of at least 130 lay Catholic leaders, last week endorsed 10 senatorial candidates — Grace Poe, Neri Colmenares, Bam Aquino, Gary Alejano, Mar Roxas, Erin Tañada, Florin Hilbay, Chel Diokno, Romulo Macalintal and Samira Gutoc.

Process

The 10, according to PCM, were chosen after a two-level process which put a premium on belief in God and position on national issue especially Charter change.

They were rated based on character and honor, competence and abilities, faithfulness to public service and faithfulness to God, the Constitution and laws.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines earlier said that the erosion of checks and balances in government made it crucial for voters to pick candidates who are “principled, courageous and who have the common good as their main concern and not their own political interest.”