People’s vote, Church’s vote

Whatever the reasons for voting candidates in elections, there are truths, however, that cannot be denied, such as:

1. Elections in the Philippines are dominated by country’s elite families who are competing for political power. The wealthiest clans contest national, congressional and provincial offices. The families of lesser wealth are competing for municipal offices. The families of rich peasant or not so poor contest for the barangay offices.

2. From 1935 until 1972, Philippine elections were directed by the agents of the United States. Generally, the will of the people was usually acceptable though there were flaws like miscounts, instances of vote-buying or election-related violence but these were considered normal.

3. During Martial Law, Ferdinand Marcos controlled all election processes. Elected public officials were the people who were Marcos allies and minions. In the snap election of 1986, Marcos supporters tried every trick to win but the people manning the counting discontinued to work. Corazon Aquino called for civil disobedience and People Power ousted Marcos, his cronies and supporters. But Marcos loyalists were not really dismantled. They just changed colors and party-loyalty.

4. After Marcos, the Philippine elections still marred by violence, fraud and irregularities. Vote-buying is rampant. Voting precincts are usually run out of ballots and ink or ballot boxes were switched. The names of legitimate voters were not be located. The names of the dead people remain on lists. There were voters who can vote twice. Election results were manipulated. Though, there were changes in the manner of voting and counting through computerizations but still irregularities happened.

6. Election monitoring bodies or watch groups like National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Kontra Daya, and the likes are good only in information and education campaigns but they are powerless in correcting vote-buying and terrorism.

With these realities, the people will still go out and vote.

They are even aware of the electoral situation and problems, but they will participate in the elections. They will participate as if this is their sacred duty.

Most of the people who voted during election believed that it is an opportunity for a change. Basically, many people think of a change of people who are leading the government either in local government units or in the national level. At the same time, people think that changing people goes along with the changing of political platforms and programs.

Thus, progressive organizations and Churches will also participate. Their task is to guide the people. The people should be guided in voting. This is one of the tasks of Christians, especially church people. The Makabayan guidelines in choosing or supporting candidates may be a big help or can be considered. The Roman Catholic Church has issued also some guidelines for their members.

The Makabayan Coalition will campaign for candidates who would stand on some issues, which are the following:

1. Pagsuspinde o repeal ng probisyon sa excise tax ng TRAIN Law;
2. Paglaban sa Charter Change at mga katulad na makasarili at kontra-Pilipinong amyenda sa Konstitusyon;
3. Pagtaguyod ng karapatang pantao at due process para sa lahat;
4. Pag-giit ng ating soberanya at karapatan sa West Philippine Sea;
5. Pagpapatuloy ng usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng gobyerno at National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) had already issued a pastoral statement: “Seek the Common Good.”

This means “pursuit of the common good; promotion of justice; a spirit of service; option for the poor; and the empowerment of people.”

Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ revealed that the Laity of the Roman Catholic Church must “be actively involved during the election campaign period.”

Archbishop Ledesma called on the faithful to vote for the candidates who are qualified for the five C criteria: conscience, competence, compassion, companions and commitment.

These five Cs are defined in the following:

1. The candidate is a person of conscience, a person of moral integrity. It means that he or she is God-fearing (maka-Dios); will respect human rights; transparent and accountable for his/her actions and no charges of corruption in his public record.
2. The candidate is a competent person. He/she has the educational background; good record of service, either in government or in private life; and in good health.
3. The candidate has a compassion or concern for the poor and marginalized; work for social justice; protect the rights of minorities and work for the empowerment of the poor.
4. The candidate’ companions must have reputation and integrity; must not work for personal interest; and not a member of political dynasty.
5. The candidate has a commitment. He/she holds “on to key principles – e.g., maka-tao, maka-bayan, maka-kalikasan… stand on key issues, such as peace-building in Mindanao and peace negotiations with insurgent groups, protection of the environment, anti-poverty measures foreign relations.”

Before the statement of Archbishop Ledesma, Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Dagupan had released a video clip that called the people to See, Judge, Act. Archbishop Villegas explained that voting is the power of the people. It is sacred because it is an expression of preaching the will of God for the country.

Thus, the people must See the important problems in the society. They must Judge the candidates which should have commitment, competence and character. The people must Act to vote rightly and bravely.

Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos has, earlier, urged his flock “to vote only candidates who have a good track record and with the common good and interest in mind.”

Borongan, Samar Bishop Crispin Vasquez urged the electorate to use their votes wisely and to start correcting distorted values that hinder the election of good candidates.

“It is high time to demand for real change. These coming elections, choose good candidates,” Bishop Vasquez said.

Archbishop Ledesma suggested “three challenges for the Catholic laity to be actively involved during the election campaign period.”

These are the following:

1. To form circles of discernment. This may be actualized through Basic Ecclesial Communities, clusters of household heads among religious lay organizations, or any grouping of concerned citizens. Group discernment should be more enriching and enlightening instead of relying on one’s solitary perceptions.
2. For lay faithful to engage in principled partisan politics. “Principled” in the sense that Christians should be guided by moral values and first principles. “Partisan” in the sense that ultimately every voter has to choose a particular candidate representing a particular party. And “politics” in the sense that the winner in a political contest is given the legitimacy and power of decision-making for the community. Hence, the entire community are stakeholders in the choice of their leaders.
3. For Catholics is the reminder that it is their right and their duty to vote for candidates who work for the common good. Hence, candidates should be elected not on the basis of personal favors given to the voter but on the candidate’s record of public service and commitment to work for the common good.

Other institutions and Churches, like the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), United Methodist Church (UMC), Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP), and the Evangelical and Pentecostal Churches, may also issue pastoral statements on elections for their faithful to vote for the right, honest and servant candidates.

However, there are more challenges for Christians to work and actualize the guidelines presented by the bishops. One of the challenges is to help build unity, solidarity, network and alliance among Churches and Christians.

Furthermore, the Philippine Churches in order to be able to gather the supports of the people of their rightful candidates in this coming May election, they must ensure to gain and win over the people and court the people’s vote. The people’s vote is the vote of the Filipino masses. They should convince the people that the voice of the people is the voice of God. It means that Church vote is the people’s vote. The people must obey and follow the call of the Churches. After all, Churches serve the people.

The task of progressive church people organizations is to help the Churches overcome sectarianism and chauvinism. It means that biases and distrust must be disregarded. They must also unite against fraud, especially vote-buying, and terrorism. Working for the common good is working for the Filipino people. The Filipino people are the people of God.