From national to local candidates the Cebu clergy managed to secure their support to repeal the Reproductive Health (RH) law in Congress and the local level.
Each senatorial candidate and his or her representative voiced their support to the Church’s campaign against the RH law in a Unity for Life prayer rally attended by 1,000 people at the Plaza Independencia last night.
Church groups also identified and pledged their support to Cebu candidates.
United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate Juan Miguel Zubiri said the country’s population is no hindrance to growth and cited China and Indonesia who became progressive despite having a large population.
He also vowed to fight bills on divorce, same sex marriage and euthanasia in the Senate.
Team PNoy candidate Cynthia Villar said she and her husband Sen. Manny Villar were consistent in their stand against the RH law.
She also thanked the Lay Initiative for Elections (Life) for their endorsement to her candidacy. UNA allies JV Ejercito and Richard Gordon also voiced their support to the Church’s stand on the RH law.
“The church will win. God did not create Adam and Steve or Madam and Eve,” Gordon said.
Senatorial candidates Mitos Magsaysay, Nancy Binay, Gringo Honasan, Antonio Trillanes IV and Koko Pimentel sent representatives to the rally.
Cebuano candidates led by the Garcia family also aired their stand against the RH law with Deputy House Speaker Pablo Garcia saying he will file a petition against the law before the Supreme Court.
Suspended Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said the Catholic vote will “resoundingly decide” this month’s election.
She said she couldn’t forget that Dec. 17 was the date when the RH Law was passed and President Benigno Aquino III signed her six-month suspension order.
Congressional candidate Raul del Mar of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), a Papal awardee, pledged to continue the fight against the RH law in Congress.
“This is something we do whatever it takes. This is for God, for life and for family,” he said.
Re-electionist Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and running mate Councilor Edgardo Labella also lent their support to the Church.
Aside from the Garcias, Church groups also pledged their support to re-electionist Rep. Luigi Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza.
They also lent support to Mayor Michael Rama and Labella.
“May they continue to support the fight against the RH law,” Bullecer said.
A Mass was officiated by Cebu auxiliary bishop Msgr. Emilio Bataclan, who said the voters have the initiative to choose their leaders.
Bataclan said while Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma stated that voters should be free to vote for anyone they choose, Church groups are exercising their “lay initiative” to push for the betterment of society.
“We are not slaves. We are masters of our own faith. We should do whatever we could for our own good,” Bataclan said.
Life organizer Rene Bullecer said local and national candidates crossed party lines to join yesterday’s rally
Church groups who attended yesterday’s rally wore red ribbons as a symbol of life and white shirts printed with the message “Mabuhi ang Kinabuhi (Long Live Life).”
The evening rally ended with the signing of a covenant by the candidates and a candle-lighting ceremony with those in attendance singing “Bayan Ko.” /Carmel Loise Matus, Correspondent with Correspondents Jose Santino Bonachita and Michelle Joy L. Padayhag