Filipino voters were encouraged by Church groups to prepare for the upcoming national and local elections by being more discerning in choosing candidates.
This was the message of both the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP).
AMRSP Co-Executive Secretary Rev. Fr. Christian Buenafe said that the election will shape the future of the country.
“Tayo ang gagawa ng ating tadhana, tayo ang gagawa ng ating kwento, sino ang gusto nating maging leader in the next six years (We make our own destiny, we make our own story. We will be choosing who we want to be our leaders in the next six years)," said Buenafe in an interview with Church-run Radyo Veritas on Sunday, Sept. 12.
Buenafe said that it is important for eligible Filipinos to register as a voter.
“So please please nakikiusap ako.... sa mga may bahay, pamilya, mga kabataan karapatan natin ito sabi nga magparehistro na kasi your vote is your sacred right, obligasyon mo ito, ibinigay ng Diyos ang free will to choose who will be our leaders (I'm appealing to families and to our youth. This is our right. Get registered. Your vote is sacred and it is your obligation. God has given us the free will to choose who will be our leaders),” he said.
The voter registration period is until Sept. 30, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.
PPCRV Board of Trustee Member Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela also made the same call.
“Marami pong politiko na nagpapakilala na talaga...kaya dapat maaga rin tayong magprepare sa election kasi kung sila one year ahead, dapat tayo mas ahead sana sa kanila (There are many politicians who are already introducing themselves... so we should also prepare early for the election because if they are one year ahead, we should prepare early also),” he said in an interview also with Radyo Veritas.
The PPCRV is currently preparing for their voter education campaign, said Heruela.
"We are trying to mobilize voters education ng PPCRV gumagawa ng module para sa basic values natin na kinuha sa Constitution (We are trying to mobilize voter education of the PPCRV. We are making a module based on the basic values written in the Constitution)," he said.