Bishop calls for electoral discernment at Walk for Life event

A Catholic bishop on Saturday called on Filipinos to vote with discernment in the upcoming midterm polls and asked voters to elect candidates who "stand for human life."

In his closing statement at the Walk for Life 2019 event in Quezon City, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo expressed hope that the "people power and prayer power" the participants displayed during the "Walk" would translate into vote power.

“Isang criteria natin sa pagpili ng mga kandidato ‘yung mga taong may paninindigan sa buhay,” he said on the sidelines of the event held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

Likewise, he appealed to the public not to vote for candidates who support death penalty, the lowering of criminal liability age, and those who are mere sycophants of those in power positions.

But he clarified that the Church is not telling the people who to vote for, but only giving guidelines on the "character and values" of candidates deserving of the Filipinos' votes.

"Hindi naman ang gawain ng simbahan as a hierarchy, [ng] mga obispo, mga pari na magsabi kung sino ang [iboboto]. Ang sinasabi namin ano ang mga katangian ng iboboto. Pero yung mga laiko, yung mga lay, puwede silang maglagay ng mga pangalan. Kasi kanilang tungkulin ‘yan,” Pabillo pointed out.

He also took a swipe at the alleged "violation" of press freedom in light of the recent libel case filed against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and staff writer Reynaldo Santos, Jr.

“Ang press ay tinatakot,” said Pabillo, adding, ‘“Yung nangyari sa Rappler, isang pananakot sa press ‘yan. Ibig sabihin, pagsusupil sa katotohanan. Hindi naman tama ‘yan. Kaya nga kung hindi tayo magsalita, ‘yung mga tao baka akalain nila okay na ‘yung ginaggawa. Kasi wala namang tumututol.”

Saturday's Walk for Life is an annual event spearheaded by the Catholic Church to remind the faithful of their duty to uphold and nurture life, which is being threatened by the creeping culture of death.

Uphold life

In his homily at the Eucharistic celebration during the event, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle appealed to the public to promote life, saying it is a gift from God which must be protected.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle leads the Walk for Life mass at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, calls on everyone to defend and promote life. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/H0IU8Au6Ou

— Victoria Tulad (@victoriatulad) February 15, 2019

Archbishop of Manila Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle celebrates mass during the "Walk for Life," a solidarity campaign against human rights abuses, at the Quezon Memorial Circle on Saturday, February 16, 2019. In his homily, Tagle appeals to the public to promote life, which he says is a gift from God. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

Cardinal Tagle also reminded everyone to respect women who deliver life to this world, and once again, condemned "extrajudicial killings."

For his part, Bishop Pabillo said that President Rodrigo Duterte is gravely mistaken in assuming that the Church is against the people in his administration.

What the Church people are up against, he said, are the means by which the government implements its policies.

He also denounced the statement of Duterte in a recent PDP-Laban political rally where the President encouraged everyone to rob bishops because they are rich, and kill them if they resisted.

“Is that a reason, kung totoo man yan? said Pabillo. “Kung ikaw ay magsabi ng holdapin mo, patayin mo, tama baya ‘yan? Mali na yan... Hindi mo puwedeng gamitin ‘yang ganyang pamamalakad. Kaya sabi natin tutulan natin, mali yan. At galing pa naman yan sa Presidente.” —LBG/KG, GMA News