By CBCP News (9/26/21)
Manila, Philippines
A top Philippine churchman urged Filipinos to help ensure that next year’s national elections will push through despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, vice president bishops’ conference, said the public must make sure that the health crisis will not be used by certain sectors to thwart the elections.
“We need to help guarantee that we’re going to have an election and all,” David said during a virtual conference to mark this year’s National Laity Week in the diocese on Sept. 23.
“We must make sure that it will push through and that the pandemic won’t be used to prevent the elections. We have to avoid that,” he said.
The incoming president of the episcopal conference also said that after ensuring the conduct of elections, it is necessary to safeguard the integrity of ballots.
“We have to make sure that these elections will be clean, honest, accurate, meaningful, and peaceful,” David said.
He stressed that the public should not avoid political activities and political issues, such as the elections, as it is an integral part of being responsible citizens.
“It is wrong to avoid political issues because it is part of our lives as citizens, to have that concern for our country,” the prelate added.
Some lawmakers earlier noted the possibility that the May 9 polls may not push through if the pandemic is not resolved.
