Duque tells religious groups: endorse candidates early
Recognizing the power of religious block votes, Lawyer Gonzalo Duque, president of Lyceum Northwestern University and first vice president of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities, has called on leaders of religious groups to announce their endorsements early.
Duque said two weeks should be enough time for religious leaders to assess and select their “chosen ones”.
He said he understands that those eyeing their support have to go through serious scrutiny and evaluation from their top leaders who decide on endorsement matters, nonetheless, Duque said, “two weeks may be enough to do that task.”
March 29 was the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy for local positions and the 45-day campaign period is entering its second week.
“I pity those who are not endorsed,” he said, adding that if endorsements are made too close to election day, it does not give enough campaign time for the rest of the aspirants to make up for the votes that they almost automatically lose.
Among the groups he referred to include Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), the Jesus is Lord Movement and the El Shaddai Charismatic Group are the big religious assemblies that are known to exercise an almost 100% compliance in terms of block voting.—EVA
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