Tagle tells poll bets to work for ‘common good,’ be ‘servants’

DASMARIÑAS CITY—Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has asked candidates to heed the example of Pope Francis by being servants of the people as they seek their mandate in the May 13 elections.

Tagle, who celebrated Mass and led a peace-covenant signing for candidates in Cavite at the De La Salle University (DLSU) here, also asked voters to take their duty of electing the country’s next leaders seriously.

“The Pope is the servant of the servants of God … candidates should be servants as well,” said Tagle, who was among the cardinals who elected the Pope in a conclave at the Vatican last month.

He asked candidates and voters to participate in an election that aims  “for the common good” and not geared toward corruption.

The peace-covenant signing was organized by the church-based Cavite People’s Advocacy for Good Governance (Cpagg), a network of election watchdogs, church groups and sectoral organizations in Cavite. It was formed in 2010 by the diocese of Imus, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and the Community Development Center of DLSU.

Also present during the covenant signing were 38 candidates for various local positions, among them reelectionist Cavite Gov. Juanito Victor Remulla and Bacoor Rep. Lani Mercado.

Axel Pinpin, a Cpagg member, said Liberal Party gubernatorial candidate, Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi, had been invited but failed to come due to other commitments.

In Pangasinan, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said he was not endorsing any candidate because doing so would infringe on the rights of voters. This, he said, would also be an insult to voters.

“Like me, you were given the gift of intelligence and freedom. If I tell you who to vote for, I won’t be respecting your intelligence and your freedom. You have to make your own stand. You must guard your honor,” he said.

Villegas led church leaders and residents of San Fabian town in launching a campaign against vote-buying. The event was also attended by leaders of religious groups, police and candidates. Maricar Cinco and Delfin Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon; and Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon