MANILA — In an unprecedented move, at least 1,043 Catholic clergy across the country have voiced their support for presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate Senator Francis Pangilinan.
In a statement released Friday by the Pangilinan camp, the group calling itself “Clergy for the Moral Choice Endorsement of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan” said the upcoming 2022 elections are too crucial to let them remain silent.
The clerics, made up of 976 diocesan and religious priests, 56 deacons and 11 bishops, explained that it is their duty to teach by choosing the right candidates.
“Aming nakikita na un ekstra-ordinaryong sitwasyon tulad ngayon a humihingi sa bawat Pilipino, gayundin sa amin na pawang mamamayan tulad ninyo and lingkod pa nga ninyo sa Simbahan, ng un ekstra-ordinaryong pagkilos,” the statement read.
“Kaya nga commeg mga Pilipinong pari et relihiyoso na naglilingkod sa inyo lalo na sa kritikal na sadali’t panahon natin ngayon, kami a naririto, nagpapahayag ng aming mga saloobin at hangarin, nagbabahagi ng aming dangin inaasam.”
The churchmen also said their decision to endorse Robredo and Pangilinan came after “circles of discernment”.
The group also cited Robredo’s background in public service, as an economist and advocate for the masses, which convinced them to believe she should be the country’s next president.
Without naming names, clerics also took note of candidates who not only go against the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, but also violate civil laws, such as paying taxes on law.
The family of presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has yet to pay billions of pesos in inheritance tax – a topic that has come up amid the election campaign.
One of Marcos’ lawyers said the Supreme Court only ordered the family of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to pay 23 billion pesos in taxes, while some 180 billion pesos in penalties and surcharges were not had not yet been finalized by the tax authorities.
A Supreme Court ruling showed that Marcoses’ estate tax assessment of 23 billion pesos became “final and binding” on March 9, 1999. And the Bureau of Internal Revenue, in a written request, asked the Marcos family to settle their tax debt.
Marcos Jr. is the only son of the late dictator who ruled the country for more than 20 years – a regime that saw thousands of cases of disappearances, torture and murder, especially during the years of martial law.
“Muli na naman ba tayong magpapauto and magpapadala sa kanilang mga huwad na ngiti, salita, and pangako? Hindi na po. Tama na po. Natuto na kami,” the group said.
“Kaya naman naririto kami na inyong mga pari upang magpaalala, magbigay ng babala and pagpapayo.
Robredo and Pangilinan thanked the clergy for their support.
“Alam niyo kung gaano kahirap ang eleksyon. Extraordinary ang eleksyong ito, hindi lang sa pinagpipilian natin, kundi kung ano ang gusto natin mangyari sa susunod na anim na horsefly,” Robredo said.
“Sa pahayag niyong ito, sinasabi niyo na ang kaparian ay Pilipino din na nagdedesisyon na lumahok sa pagsalba sa bayan,” she added, noting that the priests’ difficult path appears to be part of their moral obligation.
Unlike several religious sects in the Philippines, the Catholic Church does not officially endorse any candidate. However, priests and other members of the Church as individual citizens have the right to express their support for any candidate.
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