VOTE selling is “evil at its best”

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz warned as he prompted voters to help restore good governance in the country.

“Selling one’s vote is three-fold evil. One, the voter becomes a traitor to society. Two, the elections become a farce. Three, the vote undermines the democratic processes,” Cruz said.

Cruz

At the same time, the Catholic Church leader emphasized the value of every vote and every qualified citizen’s civic duty to participate in the electoral process.

He said, “Voting is both a democratic privilege and a civic duty. A vote is not only precious but also sacred. To vote is a moral duty and a civic commitment.”

When a citizen casts his or her vote for a candidate with integrity and capacity, all others are thereby benefited in the event that the candidate wins, the prelate said. The opposite is also true, he added, when one casts a vote in favor of a lying, cheating and/or stealing candidate, the others are all harmed if the candidate wins the elections.

Cruz has also initiated the hanging of streamers in front of Catholic churches and Catholic schools within his archdiocese with the message, “Walang hihingi. Walang tatanggap (Don’t solicit. Don’t accept)”.

An elected public official assumes a public office and handles public funds for public service and welfare, he said. If the official has sound moral values such as honesty and industry, then the official will be able to carry out his duties to the people well, he added.—EVA

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments