After divisive polls, time to move on

CEBU CITY, Philippines—After a divisive political campaign and electoral exercise, an official of the Archdiocese of Cebu called on the people to unite and support the newly elected leaders.

The elections are meant for us to choose leaders. It is not to divide us but to move us forward to the future. After the elections, we need to go beyond party lines, work for the common good, and address the problems our country is facing, said Msgr. Joseph Tan, the spokesperson of the local Church.

He said reconciliation and unity were possible if winners and losers, including their supporters, would set aside their egos and share a common goal for the country.

Division caused by politics, he said, is a scandal that needs to end.

There must be reconciliation and unity now. At the end of party politics, we still have several problems to face: economic stability, labor woes, criminality, drugs, healthcare, and others, said Tan who also served as the spokesperson of the Cebu-Citizens Involvement and Maturation for Peoples Empowerment and Liberation (C-Cimpel), an accredited electoral watchdog.

While some defeated candidates have the right to file electoral protests, he said it should not be blown out of proportion for it might cause more division than healing.

Tan considered claims of fraud through the vote-counting machines a conspiracy theory which, he said, is oftentimes fabricated.

He said he trusts in the electoral system and the Commission on Elections.

Tan said the Church is happy with the peaceful conduct of the May 9 elections and the voter’s turnout which was estimated at 81 percent nationwide, higher than the 77-percent voter turnout in 2013, and 74 percent in 2010.

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