A Catholic bishop has called on his flock to vote responsibly in the upcoming midterm polls to correct “distorted values” that reigned in the past elections.
Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan said it’s about time people use their votes with visionary leadership and good governance in mind.
“It’s high time to demand for real change. This coming elections, choose good candidates,” he said emphatically in a video message.
The bishop lamented how previous elections in one of the country’s poorest provinces were marred by rampant vote buying and selling.
This “systemic corruption”, he stressed, has undermined the emergence of credible candidates.
“I am disturbed by what is happening in our society today because of the distorted values of many people,” Varquez said.
Echoing the call of the Philippine bishops’ conference, he urged the public to be discerning and elect candidates who have the common good as their top concern.
“If corruption continues, nothing will happen to our country and to the lives of Filipinos,” he added.
He also called on the people to participate actively during the elections and “stand for what is right, no matter how unpopular it may become”.