With the May 2022 polls less than a year away, an official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has asked voters not be infuenced by surveys when choosing the country's next leaders.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity, particularly referred to surveys on the so-called preferred candidates of the people.

"I hope we don't believe in these surveys. It only conditions our minds," he said in his homily during a Mass in Manila on Sunday, July 18.

The newly appointed vicar apostolic of Taytay in Palawan added that surveys are being used "propaganda tools of politicians."

Instead of considering the surveys, Pabillo asked the faithful to be influenced by the Word of God which has a lot to tell about leadership, even political leadership.

"We need leaders who are moved by the dire situations of the people. We need leaders who have mercy and compassion and not promote kill! Kill! Kill!" he said.

"In fact because Jesus had compassion he forgot his own need of rest. He spent the whole day teaching them, sacrificing his rest," added Pabillo.

He said to offer oneself for the others is also the kind of leadership that the country needs which is the "sacrifice of self interest for the sake of the people."

"Do our leaders teach the people? Do our leaders lead exemplary lives?" Pabillo said.

"I hope this will be the basis of our choice of leaders and not the surveys and press releases, especially not the social media being invaded by trolls," he added.