CBCP plenary assembly to tackle upcoming polls

MANILA, Philippines – Just four months before Filipinos choose their next set of leaders, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) sees the need to provide guidance to the people.

The May 9 election will be among the topics calendared in the 112th CBCP Plenary Assembly, to be held prior to the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu next week.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president, said the Philippine bishops saw the need to provide the flock with guidance and thus they would again issue a voters’ guide for the elections.

The plenary assembly, convened twice a year, will be held from Jan. 22 to 24 in Cebu with 131 member-bishops, including 37 who are retired, in attendance. It is during this event where all CBCP commissions and offices give their reports.

Villegas, now on his second and last term as president, will preside over the assembly.

Meanwhile, the non-partisan election watchdog Lente launched its “Kwentuhang Bayan” campaign to inform presidential and national candidates on the issues that need to be addressed after the elections.

Ona Caritos, Lente executive director, said the campaign also aims to inform voters from far-flung areas and the marginalized sectors, including indigenous people, detainees, women and youth.

Based on recent consultations with communities, many wanted the next leaders to have a concrete plan on eliminating illegal drugs and to connect with the less fortunate, Caritos added.

Kwentuhang Bayan is implemented by the Task Force 2016 project, which is composed of religious and other civil society organizations. – With Robertzon Ramirez