C-CIMPEL hopeful to get more volunteers

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu-Citizen’s Involvement for Maturation of People Empowerment and Liberation (C-CIMPEL) is hoping to gather the same, if not a bigger number of volunteers for this year’s polls.

C-CIMPEL is the political education arm of the Commission on Service of the Archdiocese of Cebu and part of the National Secretariat for Social Action of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

According to Judge Gabriel Ingles, one of the core group members of C-CIMPEL, they have gathered about 9,000 volunteers, so far, but they are hoping to gather as many as 20,000 like in the last elections.

Ingles said they remain optimistic to have more volunteers because more and more people are reportedly gaining interest to take part in the May elections not only as voters, but also as watchdogs.

Ingles said most of their volunteers are active church-goers, but the number of volunteers from the youth sector is reportedly growing.

C-CIMPEL has been accredited by the Commission on Elections to conduct both poll watching and quick count.

Ingles said that they have been conducting information drives in various barangays on poll automation. 

Ingles said that they have also tied up with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, which has partnered with the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) Inc., the first nationwide network of lawyers and law students that provide legal assistance to election watchdogs.

IBP Cebu City Chapter President Michael Yu said that LENTE is a non-partisan group and is voluntary to members of the IBP.

Aside from providing legal assistance to election watchdogs, Yu said they are also studying the current election law to determine if it needs further amendments. The group is also engaged in voters education campaign. — AJ A. Dela Torre/JMO(FREEMAN NEWS)