Bishop to voters: Will you vote for Jesus or bandit Barabbas?

The bishop of Caloocan City kept the elections in the minds of Filipino voters on Good Friday, even as candidates took a two-day break from the campaign starting on Maundy Thursday.

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David in a Facebook post drew from the story of Jesus Christ's crucifixion to share a lesson on faith and democracy.

"Binigyan sila ni Poncio Pilato ng pagkakataong bumoto. Ang pagpipilian ay si Hesus o si Barabbas," David posted on his Facebook account.

"Ibinoto nila si Barabbas at ipinapako sa krus si Hesus. Sa darating na Mayo, para kanino ang boto mo? Kay Barabbas o kay Hesus?" he added.

As of posting time, David's Facebook message was shared more than a hundred times, with netizens commenting that they will vote for Jesus.

In the New Testament, Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judaea asked the crowd to choose between Jesus Christ and Barabbas to determine who will be pardoned before the feast of the Passover.

The crowd selected Barabbas, who was described in the Bible as a "notorious prisoner" and "a bandit."

The choice was one of the events that led to Jesus being nailed to the cross.

Among those running for positions in the coming elections have pending cases for plunder, graft and other crimes.

'Mother not a whore'

David is one of the bishops that Duterte named in his speeches to criticize over their criticisms against the administration, its war on drugs and Duterte's irreverence.

"Hoy, David makinig kang p--- ina ka, lumabas ka sa pulpito mo. Huwag mong gamitin ang relihiyon," Duterte said in a recent speech.

The bishop countered saying  that his mother Bienvenida Siongco David successfully sent him and his 12 siblings to college, though the Japanese occupation prevented her from achieving that dream during her youth.

""Our family does not expect anyone in government to give her a recognition for her immense contribution in nation-building. But we do not expect anyone either, to insult her memory and call her a whore. She does not deserve it," he added," David said. —NB, GMA News