News Briefs: April 23, 2019

Church leaders condemn Sri Lanka bombings

Filipino Catholic Church leaders have condemned the Easter Sunday bombings of several churches and hotels in Sri Lanka.

“The act is extremely evil and deserves universal condemnation. The timing of the act alone is blasphemous because it happened on Easter Sunday when all are raised to eternal life because Christ our Head is risen,” Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said.

Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos said the bombings must be condemned as these were attacks on peace and humanity.

“Let us pray that [the people of Sri Lanka] will remain strong, firm with their faith and rise up again,” he said.

Ozamis Archbishop Martin Jumoad appealed to the public to “never allow evil to succeed.” —Tina G. Santos

547 candidates running unopposed in midterm polls

Over 500 candidates are running unopposed in next month’s midterm elections, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Of the 547 candidates running unopposed, 46 are aspiring for seats in the House of Representatives.

But these candidates should not be too confident of their victory, said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, saying unopposed candidates could not be automatically proclaimed winners come Election Day.

“We are a first-past-the-post system. Meaning, you have to get the most number of votes cast in an election. Thus, theoretically, if no votes are cast, even an unopposed candidate will have no basis for winning,” Jimenez said. —Tina G. Santos