Comelec seeks divine intervention

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday sought divine intervention in ensuring clean, orderly and honest elections on May 10 following the controversy over the first automated polls.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and other religious leaders joined Comelec officials and prayed for God’s guidance in conducting the polls during the so-called “People’s Prayer for Clean, Honest and Orderly Elections.”

Aside from the Comelec officials and Church leaders, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel and members of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) also attended the inter-faith prayer organized at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo led the prayers for protection from evil for all poll officials and employees, accredited election watch volunteers as well as teachers, military and police officers performing duties in the coming elections.

“We ask that your peace be upon all of those who are running for public office and their supporters so that they will not resort to threats, acts of violence or lawlessness and not to interfere in any illegal manner in the casting and canvassing of ballots,” Melo said.

Melo also prayed that the election machines and related paraphernalia be in good running condition and for sufficient electrical power for the smooth functioning of the machines as well as for powerful telecommunication signals even in remote areas.

Pimentel said the Comelec needs the prayers of the people, considering that it is facing so many problems at this time.

“The Comelec is now besieged by so many problems, many of them real and some of them imaginary. Man’s effort may not be sufficient to address the problem, but we believe greater power can make things right,” Pimentel said.

He said the Comelec under Melo still has the capacity to overcome the problem and be able to conduct the most honest, orderly elections in the country.

Cardinal Rosales expressed support for the Comelec and sought God’s blessing for the Commission to be able to ensure that each and every Filipino would be able to exercise their right to vote.

“Guide the people to exercise their gift of freedom and enlighten them in choosing the right leader and to make a wise choice,” Rosales prayed.

Meanwhile, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Media Office director Monsignor Pedro Quitorio III told reporters, “Prayer power is really handy right now. We need prayer power.”

He said that even if there are people casting doubts that there would be a clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful (CHAMP) election on May 10, he believed that there could still be a miracle.

Quitorio urged the faithful to “storm the heavens with prayer.”

He cited the 1986 EDSA Revolution as an example. “The Filipinos have a track record. Whoever thought that EDSA 1 would happen… (It was the) intervention of somebody higher –God.”

He is hoping that there would again be divine intervention so the May 10 elections would push through.

The CBCP also started yesterday the daily vigil that would run until May 13 at the Arzobispado de Manila Chapel in Intramuros.

Everyday, they would dedicate 12 hours for the vigil, starting from noon until midnight.

Metro Manila bishops that include Novaliches Emeritus Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Manila Auxiliary Bishops Bernardino Cortez, Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco and Bishop Francisco de Leon would lead a Eucharistic Celebration at the Manila Cathedral at 6 a.m. on May 10 to coincide with the opening of the precincts for the elections. – With Evelyn Macairan