‘One Good Vote’ advocacy launched
THE Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) launched the “One Good Vote” in Pangasinan, its flagship program for voters’ education and advocacy in preparation for the 2016 polls.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Louie Tito Guia, PPCRV Chairperson Henrietta de Villa and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas led the ceremonies held at the University of Pangasinan in this city on October 14.
“One Good Vote” is an initiative of a faith-based organization aimed at strengthening the personal and social consciences of the Filipino people, urging them to vote with deeper discernment and reject all forms of vote buying which is rampant during elections.
Commissioner Guia said that Comelec welcomes the initiative as “one creative way by which we can reach out to voters and appeal to them to take their votes seriously and to choose from their conscience.”
“The commission’s job is to conduct the election, make sure that it is credible, peaceful and orderly but the rest is everyone else’s responsibility,” he said.
Guia said Comelec launched the “PiliPinas 2016, Tamang Pagboto, Tamang Pagbilang” campaign to make the Filipinos aware of the importance of their votes while it is the commission’s responsibility to count the votes right.
In a message, PPCRV chairperson De Villa asked the Comelec to strictly implement the gun ban.
For his part, Archbishop Villegas encouraged the voters to be one with the “One Good Vote” advocacy and avoid vote-buying.
He said, “Ipasok natin ang Diyos sa ating boto sapagkat kahit anong hawakan ng Diyos, kahit anong madampian ng grasya ng Diyos ay nagiging mabuti.”
“Remember your vote can bring heaven to the Philippines; your vote can also bring hell to the Philippines. Your vote with God becomes good and if your vote is good, you bring heaven here on earth,” Villegas added. (PIA-1, Pangasinan)
