CBCP to public: Don’t hit candidates below the belt

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the heated election campaign, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)’s social arm yesterday reminded the public that they should not hit candidates below the belt.

CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) executive secretary Fr. Antonio Labiao underscored that while voters and supporters of candidates may denounce the actions of other candidates, they should still respect people.

“This is my only advice to the faithful: if you are true believers of God, respect each other. You denounce the action, but you respect the person,” Labiao said during a virtual press conference for “40 Days of Prayer and Discernment for Elections” in connection with the “I Vote God” campaign.

Asked to give advice to voters and supporters of candidates who have been giving rude comments and opinions about other candidates, the prelate expressed belief that while people should censure the wrongs and the lies, they should not reach that point where they would destroy a person or a candidate’s character because everyone makes mistakes.

For Labiao, what is important is for that person to accept his or her mistake. The person should also keep open communication and be able to maintain his or her dignity.

“There are times that people hit below the belt, and some of these actions are not Christian. It is important that we keep a good-level discussion,” Labiao said.

“Let us talk about the truth, good governance and common good, and our arguments should not destroy another person. This is not our Christian approach,” he added.

With 41 days left before the May 9 national and local elections, many supporters of candidates have been very active in social media and critical of other candidates.

Presidential candidate and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is among those often attacked in social media, accused of being a “magnanakaw” (thief) and for telling lies.

Asked how people could be discouraged from voting for people who are said to be thieves and liars, Church-based group Dilaab Foundation founder Fr. Victor Carmelo Diola emphasized that these are already mentioned in the 10 Commandments.

“The seventh Commandment says, ‘Thou shall not steal,’ while the eighth Commandment is ‘Do not bear false witness against your neighbor,’” Diola said.

He added that people should also focus on the facts and not just on opinions and distorted views.

Labiao said Caritas Philippines – another name for CBCP-NASSA – had previously issued a statement addressed to Marcos where they appealed for truth concerning allegations of his unpaid taxes.

Diola also encouraged the public to read the two CBCP pastoral letters concerning the coming elections.

In their LASER (lifestyle, actions, supporters, election campaign conduct, reputation) test, there are also questions that people can refer to when choosing their candidates, such as if the candidate engages in public discourse.

Marcos is often criticized for skipping or being selective in joining election-related debates.

CBCP-NASSA and Dilaab Foundation also expressed belief that there are still many undecided voters.

They encourage Catholic voters to put God at the center of the political exercise by joining circles of discernment for empowerment that will educate them in choosing the candidates they should support.

Since last year, they have been giving orientation seminars in 85 dioceses, where their Basic Ecclesial Communities teams would reach out to far-flung areas that the Catholic Church and the social media find difficult to reach to educate them in choosing the best leaders for the country.