Bishop urges Filipinos to voice protest on elections

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines  —  San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza yesterday urged the public to air their protests against what he described as “questionable” May 13 elections.

Alminaza said the way the elections were conducted on May 13 was worse than previous elections, instead of having improved.

Citing malfunctions of vote counting machines, disenfranchisement of voters and difficulties in transmission, Alminaza called for an impartial investigation and drastic reforms to ensure fair elections in the future.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the bishop could request the Senate for an inquiry either on June 2 or 4. 

The poll body was invited to appear before the Senate by Sen. Koko  Pimentel.

“We need to have our voices heard. We should not take this sitting down. Our questions need to be answered or no reforms will happen,” Alminaza said.

He said a majority of the people live in poverty and yet the kind of leaders who could truly represent their best interests and ensure reforms are unable to win because of the vast powers and resources of those in power.   

He said politicians have mastered the art of how to control voters through vote buying, adding that he has yet to hear a satisfactory explanation from the Comelec on this matter.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, Alminaza, along with Auxiliary Bishop of Manila Broderick Pabillo and Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias, called for an impartial investigation or “the country will not be able to find closure on the questions of integrity and credibility of the results of this election process.”

“No amount of name-calling and threats on the part of those silencing protests can repress the call for transparency,” they said, as they urged the people to document and report cases of election-related anomalies.

The bishops cited overwhelming accusations of tampering with and manipulation of results.