In an unprecedented move, priests from the Archdiocese of Cebu expressed “individual support” for the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and the Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, saying that silence at such time in the country’s history is “dangerous.”
In a statement, the priests, who signed a manifesto of support and handed it to Robredo’s daughter, Tricia, said that the May 9 elections have become the “battle for the soul of our beloved country.”
The priests believe Robredo and Pangilinan “embody integrity and concern for the marginalized, which the Church has always advocated.”
“Vice President Leni Robredo, even before she became a candidate, has always gone to the fringes of society to offer help. So untainted is she that even her detractors cannot criticize her on the issue of transparency,” the statement read.
“She possesses the ability to inspire people to do good, which is evident in the phenomenal volunfeerism in the current campaign. She has shown the charism to truly unite people of different persuasions,” it added.
Pangilinan, the statement stated, has helped ordinary farmers, adding that the tandem also opposed the bloody war on drugs by the Duterte administration and embody the teachings of the Church in protecting the poor and the marginalized.
Recognizing that the Church has historically been non-partisan, the priests argued the “extremely abnormal” times the country is in.
“We are painfully aware of the dangers of the Church becoming power brokers. But times are extremely abnormal and we believe that silence in front of a possible return of a lamented past is even more dangerous,” the statement said.
“Since the reign of God should be reflected in all aspects of our lives, we believe that it is part of our prophetic calling to denounce the disinformation and historical revisionism that now accompany the attempt to return to power by the family that has destroyed democratic institutions and pillaged the country,” it added.
The family of the survey frontrunner, former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was in power for 20 years before a peaceful People Power Revolt forced them into exile.
But upon return, experts said that a massive disinformation campaign has whitewashed the family’s sins with some believing the Marcoses were victims of communist propaganda.
“We also fear that the disinformation and deception that characterize their campaign will also characterize the kind of leadership (that they will exercise) once they regain power,” the priests said.
On Wednesday, May 4, over 1,200 priests, bishops, and deacons also endorsed Robredo and Pangilinan.
The statement reminded Filipinos of their “sacred duty to vote and to vote only for the right leaders of this our beloved country, the Philippines, to choose and to elect true servant-leaders whose hearts are really after the heart of the Good Shepherd.”
The statements from the Catholic priests came after the bloc voting religious sect Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) endorsed Marcos and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.