CEBU CITY—Be honest.
This was the advice of retired Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Cardinal Vidal to politicians who are aspiring to be the country’s next leaders.
“Usually they promise and later on they do not fulfill,” said Vidal in an ambush interview on Friday at the 51st Eucharistic Congress (IEC) here.
Vidal urged Filipinos to choose the country’s next leaders wisely.
“Choose the best leader that we will have in the coming years,” he said.
The 85-year-old prelate said he would still vote in the May national elections.
“Why not?” Vidal said, responding to a question whether he would vote this May.
He said presidential aspirants Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte have visited him in his house in Manila.
But Vidal didn’t disclose what they talked about.
In a press conference earlier, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle told politicians to preserve the people’s trust in them.
“Trust is a gift from God. Show it in your service,” Tagle said.
“Being in politics means you have earned the trust of the people. When you were elected, you have been given the gift of trust of the people. Don’t throw away that trust,” he added.
He also slammed politicians, saying the culture of bribing and corruption are “unacceptable” to Christian values.