Dilaab Foundation Inc. executive director Fr. Carmelo Diola has called on the Dumaguete clergy to get to the grassroots level, and openly campaign on a house-to-house basis for people to use their conscience in voting during the May 2016 elections.
Dilaab is a church-based organization in Cebu that launched the I Vote Good campaign.
While it is not endorsing any particular candidate, Fr. Diola said they believe that the Church must be actively-involved in the upcoming presidential and national elections.
With only about 11 months to go before next year’s polls, Fr. Diola stressed that priests and Church-based organizations are encouraged to go on a house-to-house campaign “urging and trying to form the consciences of the people, by calling on them not to sell their votes in whatever form”.
Fr. Diola was guest speaker in a forum Tuesday in Dumaguete, during the clergy meeting of the Diocese of Dumaguete headed by Bishop Julito Cortes.
He told the priests to use the LASER, or the Lifestyle, Accomplishment/Action, Supporters, Election Conduct, and Reputation test when campaigning for values and not persons.
The unexplained wealth of a candidate, or a politician’s lifestyle will say enough about that person.
Voters should also consider the accomplishments that a candidate has achieved for the common good, and to look into the kind of supporters the candidate has. If the supporters are linked to illegal drugs or gambling, that should become a basis for a voter not to elect that politician into office, Fr. Diola said.
The I Vote Good campaigner emphasized they are promoting two changes in the behavior of voters at the barangay level: shunning vote-buying, and being able to discern who to vote for, with the use of the LASER test.
The common practice of taking money from politicians during election time but “voting with a conscience” is not acceptable either, Diola stressed.
He described the selling of votes as not just cultural but also social in nature, with people welcoming however little money is given them by politicians.
He said that during election time, the church has a moral obligation to inform the voters, and to make sure they vote with their conscience.
Fr. Diola said he is hopeful the Diocese of Dumaguete will take on the challenge, and also launch the local version of the I Vote Good campaign. (PNA)
