2,000 join Pangasinan unity march for peaceful polls

DAGUPAN CITY — About 2,000 Catholics from the different towns of Pangasinan province marched on Saturday (May 4) to call for “clean, honest, accountable, meaningful and peaceful” elections.

“We are here as one family. I hope we will feel and see peaceful elections on May 13,” said Fr. Hernan Caronongan, chair of the activity.

Candidates were invited to the event but only a handful showed up during the 6 a.m. Mass at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral which preceded the march.

But the big number of participants in the “unity walk” convinces voters that elections in Pangasinan would be clean and successful, said Ederlino Tabilas, Ilocos Region director of the Commission on Elections.

Policemen, election officers and volunteers from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting also joined the march.

 

Using white water-based paint, the unity marchers later imprinted their palms on a black wall when they joined Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas pledge their commitment to the “Ten Commandments for Responsible Voting.”

Espoused by PPCRV, the commandments enjoin the public to “vote according to the dictates of your conscience; respect the decision of others in choosing their candidates; and to know the moral integrity, capabilities, and other personal qualities of the candidates you will vote for.”

The commandments also urge voters to “strive to understand the issues, platforms, and programs of candidates and parties campaigning for your vote; not to sell your vote; and not to vote for candidates using guns, goons, gold, and glitter.

Voters should not back “candidates tainted with graft and corruption,” or vote for candidates “simply because of ‘utang na loob (debt of gratitude),’ popularity, good looks, or pakikisama (camaraderie).”

The commandments tell voters to shun “candidates living an immoral life,” and enjoin them to “always put the welfare of the country as top priority in choosing the candidate you will vote for.”