MANILA, Philippines — Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Monday urged Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sen. Grace Poe and Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II to keep their campaign friendly and dignified.
Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting national Chairperson Henrietta de Villa said that the meeting between Tagle and the three leading possible presidential bets for the 2016 polls had an "atmosphere of friendship."
"The cardinal reminded them that we hope even when the rigors of the campaign reached fever pitch that kind of atmosphere, that kind of interaction among the three of them will remain so that the level of the campaign would be elevated, people also look for something like this. Ang sabi ng cardinal bigyan natin bagong dangal ang pag kampanya," De Villa said in an interview.
De Villa added that Binay, Poe and Roxas prayed together with the cardinal. She noted that there was no sharing of platforms during the meeting.
"No, it was just plain moment of providing them of some kind of spiritual rest so they could also focus their service on the readings of the cardinal," the PPCRV head said.
She said the invitations were sent to the three government officials a week ago and added that another prayer service might be held with other candidates for the 2016 national elections soon.
Tagle earlier clarified that the prayer service between him and the three possible presidential candidates had no political color.
Binay and Roxas will be the presidential candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance and the Liberal Party, respectively. Poe, on the other hand, is yet to announce her plans for the 2016 polls.
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