C-Cimpel distances from partisan lay groups

THE C-Cimpel (Cebu – Citizens Involvement and Maturation in People’s Empowerment and Liberation) is urging its volunteers to distance themselves from political candidates and even Church-based pro-life groups who are endorsing candidates for the May 13 polls.

Marilu Chiongban, executive director of C-Cimpel said: “Although we are church-based like the lay organizations, but we will stand by our record as a non-partisan. There will be no endorsement of any candidates especially the pro-life candidates who have been endorsed by the lay organizations from the Church.”

This election, C-Cimpel will have about 10,000 volunteers who will serve as non-partisan poll watchers down the polling precinct level.

Ligaya Ramos, 56, a 15-year C-Cimpel volunteer shared her experience as a volunteer.

“The reason why me and my family joined the C-Cimpel since we have seen how hot politics have been through the years and we wanted the church to be involved in order to have a peaceful and clean elections,” Ramos said.

She recalls that she once stopped a man who voted many times. But instead of getting help from authorities, she was ordered by armed men to get of the polling precinct.

Although was afraid she stayed put. She recalls telling the armed men: “I will stay here in the precinct until the election and counting is done. I am staying here legally.”

Chiongbian told Cebu Daily News that C-Cimpel volunteers are trained to follow up incidents of violations they have observed as soon as the voting is done.

She added, C-Cimpel is ready for the 2013 elections. The resources from Archdiocese of Cebu and contribution are already in place for use on election day and in the counting of votes.

During the election day, the C-Cimpel hotlines are ready to answer calls and concerns from their volunteers or any concern citizen that witness a violation during elections but with the help of the C-Cimpel volunteers for guidance.