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MEDROSO |
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Bishop
Leonardo Medroso of the Diocese of Tagbilaran has made
an appeal to Boholano voters and candidates alike to
ensure the holding of clean, honest and credible elections.
In
a message aired over dyRD and dyZD, member stations
of the Catholic Media Network, the prelate asked electors
to "pause and reflect for just one minute, to make
up [your] minds and to decide for the future of our
nation and the Filipino people."
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With
talks of vote-buying and tension in some areas, Bishop Medroso
urged the electorate to "vote according to the dictate
of [your] conscience" even as the "harsh reality
of the day-to-day struggles for survival amidst the economic
difficulties of [the] times overwhelms [the] senses and clouds
judgment."
He
said succumbing to the temptation of accepting bribe-money
is often rationalized that "it is okay to accept money
from the candidates, but we have to vote according to our
conscience."
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Bishop
Medroso reminds voters that "honest and competent
candidates deserve the voters' respect and sincerity"
and that by accepting financial, material and any form
of compensation from politicians would only "ruin
their human dignity and corrupt their moral values."
Moreover,
the Tagbilaran bishop called for voters to cast their
votes only to candidates "who will not trample
your dignity as human persons and underestimate your
intelligence and moral integrity, even through the slightest
insinuation of buying your sacred votes."
On
the other hand, Bishop Medroso recognized the "noble
intentions" of candidates to serve the nation and
the people.
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However,
"the desire to win", according to the bishop, consumes
the candidate that moral values are often disregarded, making
"honest motivations" into "filthy manipulations"
and even "treacherous actions" for some.
"Winning
by all means and at all cost now becomes the paramount concern
of everyone. Power and influence become a deadly game to be
played by every candidate in the arena within the hearts and
minds of every voter," Bishop Medroso said.
The
prelate warned candidates to "respect the right of the
people to vote according to their conscience" and not
to trample on the dignity of voters through coercion and buying
votes.
"You
can start showing to the whole nation of your genuine intention
to serve by not giving any amount or any promise of present
or future privileges in exchange for their sacred votes,"
Bishop Medroso concluded.
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