Pro-life bets bank on ‘Catholic’ votes

United Nationalist Alliance senatorial bet and Zambales 1st district Rep. Mitos Magsaysay and Buhay party-list nominee Lito Atienza believe their stand against the controversial Reproductive Health law may have won them the  “catholic vote.”

“The One Catholic Vote  will be announced soon, I’m praying na kasama ako diyan. Malaking bagay iyan kapag na endorse ka ng lay groups,” Magsaysay said.

(I’m praying I will be included. It is a big deal to be endorsed by lay groups.)

She claims to have the support of the dioceses of Bacolod, Quezon, Antipolo, Tarlac and Lipa and even the 42 religious groups under the El Shaddai and lay groups in Cebu because of her pro-life stand.

While she has not been making it to the top 12  in surveys, Magsaysay said, she is not at all bothered because “I don’t think people still believe in surveys.”

Magsaysay is in Cebu to campaign and show support to UNA’s local bets like suspended Gov. Gwen Garcia who is gunning for the congressional seat of Cebu’s 2nd district.

Former Manila mayor  Atienza is also courting the Cebuano votes for the Buhay party-list where he is the first nominee.

He said if he gets a seat in congress through the party-list system, he would continue Buhay’s pro-life advocacy like the opposition to legislative measures that would legalize same sex marriage and abortion.

Buhay party-list is identified with the Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai.

Atienza said his heart is very close to Cebuanos because his mother is a Cebuana who became a Carnival Queen in 1920’s. His mother, he said traces her roots in Carcar City./Doris C. Bongcac and Christine Emily Layos Pantaleon