Tagbilaran bishop urges voters not to sell their votes

People raise their palm branches as Catholics start the Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday at the St. Joseph Cathedral in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on April 10, 2022. (Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas)

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy on Sunday, April 10, reminded the faithful not to accept money from election candidates.

“The Holy Week is a good time to make a promise that in the coming election we will not ask for “rain” (uwan-uwan),” said Uy during the Palm Sunday Mass at the St. Joseph Cathedral.

In Bohol, vote-buying is referred to as “inangayan” (share) and “uwan-uwan” (showers). It goes on from the onset of the election week till voters go to the polls.

The alarming practice of vote-buying and vote-selling is perceived by people the other way around.

“If there is something given to you, it is good we don’t accept the money. Is that okay?,” the prelate said.

The people went silent as Uy said “Mura man mo dili okay?” (It seems you are not okay?)

“If we don’t change our ways in life, we won’t change either,” he told the congregation.

“Every time we exchange our morals and principles for money, every time we exchange our vote for material things during the election, we will be like Judas and practice the same way we crucified Jesus again.”

Uy urged the faithful to pray for enlightenment before choosing the country’s next leaders.

“Every time we rush to judge, choose or vote, and don’t pray and meditate we are like Jews who chose Barabbas the robber and same way we handed back Jesus on the Cross,” he said.

/MUF