With 86 days to go before the May 2022 polls, the De La Salle Brothers proposed "principles" in choosing the Philippines' next leaders.

The De La Salle Brothers said the coming elections will "perhaps be the most crucial ones in the recent history," as the country reels from the social and economic devastation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the "continuing blight of corrupt and ineffective governance."

"The election of 2022 is not just about the choice of a new leader -- it is about choosing the kind of future we want for ourselves, our children, and our children's children," DLS Brothers said in a statement.

"If there is anything this pandemic has driven home to all of us, it is that our survival depends on the cooperation and solidarity, on new forms of 'people power' rather than reliance on autocratic forms of governance which are insensitive to the rights of ordinary citizens, prone to abuse and corruption, and rob individual citizens and civic groups the responsibility to co-create a just, humane, and prosperous society," they added.

DLS Brothers asserted that whoever seeks to lead must be able to propose a vision that can unite the people in the pursuit of the common good, possess moral integrity, and have a proven track record of empowering the empowered and undeserved sectors of the Philippine society.

Meanwhile, they also called on the voters to "ask themselves" where each candidate stands on:

• The promotion and defense of human dignity and rights for which society exists
• The promotion and defense of the common good which enables all to live with dignity
• The promotion of solidarity, particularly for the poor and the vulnerable
• The promotion of subsidiarity which favors grassroots empowerment for social development over autocracy and authoritarianism
• The universal destination of goods -- which obligates leaders not to hoard wealth (much less steal) but to ensure that no one goes hungry, naked, homeless, or uneducated
• Respect for truth and freedom of information
• Stewardship of creation
• Personal integrity

"Finally, we must ask whether the candidate is committed to serving and implementing the principles enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution by reforming and strengthening the institutions that ensure justice, progress, and integral development for the generations that come after," DLS Brothers said.

"Cognizant of the fact that they themselves are mere tenants and caretakers in the halls of power, true leaders look forward to leaving the country healthier morally, socially, and economically than when they entered the office."

DLS Brothers likewise reminded the Filipino that voting is "not just an ethical responsibility," but a "prophetic task requiring us to challenge old ways of thinking that have led to the stagnation and squandered opportunities that are killing our very own people."