Bishop urges public to vote for honest candidates in upcoming polls

Honesty is still a major factor in choosing the candidates to vote for in the upcoming midterm polls, according to a Catholic bishop.

Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, in a Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website post, emphasized in his homily during the National Migrants' celebration on Sunday that honesty and integrity form the core of good governance.

"Be honest in words and deeds," he urged the congregation in Olongapo City.

The reminder was given following the controversial remark by Davao City Mayor and Hugpong ng Pagbabago campaign manager Sara Duterte about honesty not being an issue in the forthcoming elections because "everybody lies."

Further, Bishop Santos also advised the Filipino migrant workers to vote wisely.

"Pick those who will not take advantage of your remittances," he said.

The bishop also denounced the claim that Filipino laborers are lazy and incompetent. He stressed that foreign employers prefer Filipino workers.

Last week, special envoy to China Ramon "Mon" Tulfo Jr. described Filipino workers as inefficient compared with the ‘well-disciplined’ Chinese workers.

He also said that the influx of foreign workers in the country is due to employers' preference.

Tulfo refused to apologize for what he said despite drawing flak from various sectors. — Dona Magsino/BAP, GMA News