ADMINISTRATION standard-bearer Mar Roxas and Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday signed a “covenant for truth” Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and his diocese put together for candidates in the May 9 elections.
“It is not enough to seek blessing without responsibility,” Tagle said in his homily during the Mass to mark the signing of the TRUTH (Truthful, Responsible, Upright, Transparent and Honest) covenant for the upcoming elections initiated by the Archdiocese of Manila, through its radio network Radio Veritas.
Tagle reminded candidates vying for various government posts that public trust was a blessing that came with serious responsibilities and obligations.
He said that while elected officials of the land had the freedom to act and think, they had the duty to listen to the people.
Radio Veritas invited all the candidates for national elective positions for the signing of the covenant, but only Roxas and Binay showed up among the five presidential candidates.
Sen. Grace Poe said scheduling problems prevented her from attending the event. She said she had requested a meeting with the organizers so she could sign the covenant.
“From the very beginning, I’m for unity, I’m for peace, especially when it comes to our elections, it has to be peaceful,” she said.
Vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo could not attend the event but she sent a representative, her niece Dr. Gaile Robredo-Vitas.
Senatorial bets
Fifteen senatorial candidates from various political parties were also in attendance, including Martin Romualdez.
“I praise their (Catholic Church) compassion for the Filipinos and I believe that the Comelec will not compromise the future of this country by ensuring just, honest, clean, and peaceful elections,” Romualdez said.
BREATHING SPACE Presidential candidates Mar Roxas (left) and Jejomar Binay are seats apart at Manila Cathedral during Mass officiated by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Monday. Roxas came with wife Korina and Binay, with daughter Senator Nancy. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
He said that voters themselves should remain vigilant and support the Commission on Elections in its efforts to prevent cheating.
In his sermon, Tagle said the candidates had the obligation to make it clear to themselves what human dignity and human rights meant to them and what they thought the common good entailed.
“If voters need to study [their candidates], candidates must also study… the needs of the people who trust them and this already transcends party politics in the interest of the common good,” he said.
“To all the candidates present here, being a candidate is in itself a blessing. But if the nation puts its trust on you and you get elected, you represent its dreams and the common good. You are blessed but you have a great responsibility,” he added.
‘Don’t waste vote’
In the same breath, Tagle also exhorted the Filipino people—rich or poor, literate or illiterate, esteemed or not—not to waste their right to vote and the opportunity to participate in forging the country’s destiny, which in other parts of the world remained a dream.
But he said “participatory voting” should also be exercised with “great responsibility” by also carefully scrutinizing the candidates. “Let go of selfishness and think about what is for the common good,” Tagle said.
It was in recognition of this freedom to participate that Catholic bishops do not impose voting for particular candidates, Tagle said.
“We don’t want to preach participation at the same time curtail the people’s capacity to participate intellectually, rationally and with conscience,” he said.
But he underscored the importance of being well informed before participating in the collective effort of building a good future for the country.
“How can we participate if we don’t study or scrutinize? How can we participate if the values that should set our standard are unclear?” he asked.
Answerable to people
After the elections next week, Filipinos should still continue to participate in the democratic process by making the elected officials answerable to the people, and should their response be found wanting, the people could make their voices be heard again by not voting for them in the next elections, he said.
“A democracy is a project of never-ending participation and in between elections, it takes the form of making our representatives answerable to the people,” Tagle said.
“Whether our choice won in the elections, our responsibility to participate does not end after we cast our ballots … participation in a democratic process is a daily event [so] make your voice heard and make our representatives accountable to the common good,” he added. With a report from Gil C. Cabacungan