PPCRV: A Backgrounder

HISTORY The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) is a national parish-based political but non-partisan lay movement working for clean, honest, accurate, meaningful, and peaceful elections. It was conceptualized on the evening of May 22, 1991 in the dining room of Villa San Miguel, the residence of the Archbishop of Manila. Gathered that evening in a meeting were then Commission on Election (Comelec) Commissioner Haydee Yorac, Jaime Cardinal L. Sin, Ambassador Henrietta T. De Villa, Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, Msgr. Bayani Valenzuela, and some 30 parish lay leaders. Yorac said that what would determine the results of the coming 1992 elections are guns, goons and gold. She also said that there is little hope for clean, meaningful, and peaceful elections "if the Church, the only credible institution left in our society, does not come up with a massive organized community response." In response to Yorac, Cardinal Sin directed those who were in the meeting to come up with that "massive organized community response." On October 19, 1991, leaders of the Catholic Church's Parish Pastoral Councils launched the PPCRV. The PPCRV was also formed in response to the challenge of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines "to participate more actively, with singular competence and integrity, in political affairs... (and) help form the civic conscience of the voting population and work to explicitly promote the election to public office leaders of true integrity." PPCRV is a lay movement * led and run by the officers and members of the Parish Pastoral Council in each parish * in partnership with Church hierarchy * based on and inspired by the principles of the Gospel and the teachings of the Catholic Church * motivated by love of God and country * geared toward the promotion of true democracy, good government and the common welfare of the people PPCRV engages in voter's education, advocacy and promotion and volunteers mobilization. As of 2004, PPCRV has 443,975 volunteers from 2,670 parishes. It has a mass-based constituency composed of individuals of voting age and registered voters with operating chapters based in various Catholic parishes all over the country, which carry out all orders issued by the National Executive Board. VISION AND MISSION Attainment of * a renewed and transformed society, with a culture uniquely Filipino * a political order ingrained in Gospel values * and a Church as deeply concerned with the temporal order as she is immersed in the mission of spiritual salvation Continue to push for: * Peaceful, Enlightened, Accurate and Clean Elections * the fight against the eroding evil of politics * the continued education of our people on the rights, duties and responsibilities of citizenship INVOLVEMENT IN PAST ELECTIONS PPCRV has been accredited as a Comelec Citizen's Arm in the following electoral activities: * May 11, 1993 Synchronized Elections * 1993 Special Elections for Governor of Bataan * 1994 Special Elections for Congreeman Second District of Rizal * 1995 National and Local Elections * 1996 Sangguniang Kabataan Elections * 1997 Recall Elections Caloocan City * General and Continuing Registration UNder R.A. 8189 * 1998 National and Local Elections * 1999 ARMM Regional Elections * 1999 Plebiscite on creation of City of Novaliches * 2000 Recall Elections of Mayor of Pasay City * 2001 National and Local Elections * 2004 National and Local Elections * 2005 August ARMM Elections PROGRAMS / ACTIVITES Flagship programs * Bantay Barangay (Barangay Guardianship). Post-election advocacy program/ local government program * Vote-Ed (Voter's Education Development). Flagship program for the continuing education of peoples rights, duties and responsibilities of responsible citizenship trhough conscience building * Lo-Go (Logal Governance). Flagship program for the information of the rights, duties and responsibilities of responsible citizenship through the knowledge of the government's goals and programs as well as its laws. * Pol-Fair (Political Affairs). Flagship program for the advocacy on electoral reforms; the program for the crusade against the eroding evils aof politics. Pre-2004 elections activities * Oplan V.A.L.I.D.A.T.E. (Verified Accuracy of Listing Indicative of the Democratic Authenticity of the Electorate) * Voter's education * Networking * Lecture forum on electoral modernization * National conference * Prayer vigil for P.E.A.C.E * PPCRV-Comelec presidential debate PPCRV AND THE 2007 ELECTIONS In a January 25, 2007 resolution (SPP No. 06-140), the Comelec accredited the PPCRV as its citizen's arm for the May 14, 2007 elections. Its shall conduct poll watching functions, and assist voters and in the canvassing of votes; and assist the Comelec in voter's education campaign in every municipality, province and city including highly urbanized cities. The PPCRV's petition for accreditation was approved with the following conditions: * PPCRV shall be subject to the direct and immediate control of the Comelec and comply with its orders; * non-partisan and impartial during the election period * not be under the influence of any foreign entity * police its ranks * submit to the Comelec a list of its officials * make available to Comelec its personnel and equipment * submit a weekly written report of its operations during the election period Violation of these conditions will revoke the accreditation LEADERSHIP National Executive Board * Chairperson: Ambassador Henrietta T. de Villa * Vice Chairman - Internal Affairs: Mr. Antonio G. Ventosa * Vice Chairman - External Affairs: Mr. Ernesto M. Burdeos * Treasurer: Dr. Zenaida V. Rotea * Secretary General: Bro. Clifford T. Sorita Board Members * Msgr. Gerardo O. Santos * Atty. Andres D. Bautista * Mr. Gonzalo O. Catan, Jr. * Mr. Chris King A. dela Cruz * Mr. Alfredo V. Lagman, Jr. * Dr. Ricardo S.D. Ledesma * Mr. Dioscoro V. Ochangco, Jr. * Mr. Paulo G. Pabalan * Mrs. Siony D. Prioreschi National Spiritual Director * H.E. Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo Board of Bishop-Consultors * His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales * H.E. Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi * H.E. Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma * H.E. Archbishop Orlando V. Quevedo * H.E. Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles * H.E. Archbishop Ernesto A. Salgado * H.E. Archbishop Jose S. Palma * H.E. Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes * H.E. Bishop Vicente M. Navarra * H.E. Bishop Socrates B. Villegas * H.E. Bishop Sergio L. Utleg * H.E. Bishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle * H.E. Bishop Deogracias S. Iñiguez * H.E. Bishop Emilio Z. Marquez * H.E. Bishop Jose F. Oliveros * H.E. Bishop Pedro D. Arigo * H.E. Bishop Jesse E. Mercardo * H.E. Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani CONTACT INFORMATION PPCRV National Secretariat Office Room 301, Pius XII Catholic Center 1175 U.N. Avenue, Manila, Philippines Tel. No.: 521-5005 Telefax: 521-3626 E-mail: ppcrv@lycos.com / parishpcrv@yahoo.com