Speaker of the House Sonny Belmonte.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Calling for a “political ceasefire,” House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. on Saturday urged candidates in the upcoming national elections to take a break from demolition jobs and black propaganda on Holy Week for a “proper and genuine” observance of the Christian tradition.
“It is a time of prayer, meditation and looking inward which is the essence of the entire season. Let us focus therefore on the call for sacrifice, the practice of humility, compassion, repentance and forgiveness,” Belmonte said.
“We hope that all the political mudslinging and black propaganda will cease this Holy Week and candidates instead also assess how they can best serve our people and articulate this to voters in the weeks ahead,” he added.
Belmonte said candidates should spend the Holy Week reviewing their platforms to ensure that these would serve the pressing needs and best interest of Filipinos and “beneficial to needs and development of the people or constituencies they serve especially in the long term.”
“Instead of obsessing on the downfall or defeat of their political foes, candidates should think positively and kindly this Holy Week by focusing on how to adjust further their platforms for the betterment of the lives of Filipinos,” the Speaker said. “We have a smart electorate who will not just believe nice pictures presented in front of empty promises. They deserve clear plans and the candidate stating exactly how he or she intends to achieve these promises they make.”
“With only two months left before the May 9 elections, it is time candidates reject a campaign defined by lies and demolition against their political opponents. There is no time to waste. We urge them to show selflessness and statesmanship now by highlighting their platforms and clearly expounding on the means to achieve these,” he added. IDL
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