Elected officials told: Repay voters’ trust with hard work

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma

MANILA, Philippines – Thanking the people who voted you into office is simply not enough.

The president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) told newly elected politicians, as they assumed their posts on Sunday, to work hard for their constituents as a way of thanking them for their votes.

“It’s not enough to thank the people for electing them and then do nothing [for them]. More importantly, the question is what legacy can you leave to the people that elected you,” said CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma in an interview with reporters.

Palma said elected leaders should prove to the people that their votes were not wasted by working hard for their welfare.

“You should be more serious [in working for the people] not because you are a public official but because you know you have an important mandate and a responsibility that is very sacred,” he said.

He lamented how some officials took their responsibilities lightly and did not give their all to their jobs.

In particular, several congressmen had become notorious for racking up scores of absences in the House of Representatives, like boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, who was the top absentee in Congress, and Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV.

“They know what they entered into [so] they should know that they are not supposed to be [frequent absentees],” said Palma.