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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Comelec exec on religious groups endorsing candidates: Part of their freedom

Comelec exec on religious groups endorsing candidates: Part of their freedom

Published May 4, 2022 03:47 pm

The endorsement of candidates issued by some religious groups is covered by their freedom of expression and religious freedom, a commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday, May 4.

Comelec Commissioner George Erwin Garcia attends tue virtual Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum with journalist Marichu Villanueva on May 4, 2022. (Screenshot from Kapihan sa Manila Bay livestream)

Comelec Commissioner George Erwin Garcia said that the poll body won’t interfere should religious groups decide to support some of the national and local candidates ahead of next week's elections.

“It is part of our freedom of expression and religious freedom. We will not interfere on the expression of the people on this freedom,” Garcia said in Filipino during the virtual Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

On Tuesday, bloc-voting religious sect Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) endorsed the presidential and vice presidential candidacies of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and President Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

INC is known to endorse its religious leader’s preferred candidates during elections which are often obeyed by their followers.

However, some INC members who support the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan for the presidency and vice presidency took to social media to express their defiance to the endorsement of their religious leaders.

As for Garcia, he said that the decision as to who is the most worthy candidate to vote in the upcoming polls will ultimately rely on the voters.

“Bandang huli naman po, kahit idikta ng religious sect na kinabibilangan nila, ang choice pa rin ay nasa mamamayan and ang decision pa rin ay nasa mamamayan. Pwede po nila sundin, pwede po nilang hindi sundin (In the end, even if a religious sect dictates who their members should vote, the choice and the decision still remains with the people),” he said.

“But as far as the Comelec is concerned, we cannot interfere on this choice, on this freedom of expression, and religious freedom as the case may be,” he added.

Related Tags

endorsement 5042022 Inc Iglesia Ni Cristo Elections Leni-Kiko Comelec BBM-Sara
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