File photo of the vote counting machine.
MANILA, Philippines — A network of Catholic schools has urged voters to reject candidates who support the “historical distortion” of martial law, the “unjust acts” of the current administration, and its policy toward China.
Members of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) said they are taking this “prophetic, non-neutral, even partisan positions” in adherence to their faith.
“We vehemently reject the candidates who run under this platform of lies and historical distortion — disseminated in social media by massively-financed trolls — particularly the brazen presentation of the Marcos dictatorship and martial law as benevolent regimes in our political history,” CEAP said in a statement sent to reporters on Monday.
The group said the voters, if they value justice, should also reject what they believe as “unjust acts” of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, such as the war on drugs and its policy towards China.
“We reject candidates who have supported the unjust acts of the current administration, particularly its drug war that has killed thousands, mostly poor and powerless, and the blatant lack of remorse and accountability from the country’s leadership,” they said.
“We reject candidates who supported the current administration’s policy toward China’s aggression inside Philippine territory, its rejection of the Hague ruling, and the lack of protection of Filipino fisherfolk,” they added.
On the other hand, the group encouraged the electorate to vote for candidates with integrity and those who will uphold democracy and the rule of law.
“We value democracy, and thus we support candidates who uphold it and the rule of law in our land. We reject candidates who undermine democracy through intolerance of critique and opposition, influence peddling in all three branches of government, perpetuation of a culture of impunity, traditional and patronage politics, and through rampant human rights violations,” they said.
CEAP said voters should value integrity, which means candidates should have the following characteristics: “No record of corruption, proven competence in participatory governance, transparency and accountability in public service, love for the poor and their empowerment, ability to sacrifice for the sake of the common good, and readiness to fight for values of truth, social justice, and democracy.”
“We support leaders who wield power as social responsibility and not self-entitlement, and who can connect to the spiritual in their lives, through their conscience, discernment, and faith in God,” they added.
CEAP encouraged the voters to unite in this “great moral imperative of our times” by taking a stand.
“Ultimately, the choice is moral – leading us to take prophetic, non-neutral, even partisan positions on behalf of the Gospel values we stand for, discerned prayerfully and critically, and acted on with courage and faith,” they said.
“The May elections is the opportunity that will break this darkness,” they added.
RELATED STORY:
Next CBCP head to laity: Don’t call yourselves Christians if you don’t vote trustworthy candidates