‘God’s love is manifested through voting’ – ex-CBCP president

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'Tomorrow, God's love, God's protection, God's desire that we live good lives would be manifested, that desire, through sacred voting tomorrow,' Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles says

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Leading a special Holy Mass in Davao City a day before the local and national elections on Monday, May 12, a former Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president has a reminder to voters who will elect new leaders.

“Tomorrow, each one is like the sovereign king choosing who would govern us, who would serve us. Tomorrow, each one would say, who will be the ones to serve, to help us have better lives,” Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said during his homily in San Pedro Cathedral on Sunday, May 11.

“Tomorrow, God’s love, God’s protection, God’s desire that we live good lives would be manifested, that desire, through sacred voting tomorrow,” the archbishop added.

The Holy Mass was also celebrated for the Archdiocesan Commission on Elections Monitoring and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting. This task force, led by citizens and the Church, was established to ensure transparency in light of the elections.

Vice President Sara Duterte was supposed to attend the Sunday Mass in her hometown, but did not attend because of personal matters. In his homily, the archbishop also highlighted the importance of election volunteers in serving as “shepherds” to other citizens.

“In the coming years, elections would truly be for people so meaningful that they can say that I really voted according to my conscience. For those who believe, I voted according to the will of the Lord. That I voted for people who can serve us very well. I voted for people who would shepherd our people by being government servants. We will pray for you in a special way,” Valles added.

The Davao Archbishop is a notable figure in the Catholic church in the Philippines. Valles served as CBCP president from 2017 to 2021.

At the height of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades against the church, Valles remained to be friends with the former Davao City mayor. In 2016, Valles said “there’s no conflict” between Duterte and the Catholic Church in Davao.

Most of prominent bishops, like Valles’ successor in CBCP Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, were vocal against Duterte’s policy on human rights and his war on drugs. Even Valles’ predecessor in Davao, the late Fernando Capalla, had a stronger stance against Duterte and the Davao Death Squad killings.

When Duterte was arrested in March 11 and brought before the International Criminal Court over his crimes against humanity case, Catholic groups were the first to issue celebratory statements because they said the arrest would bring justice to the victims of human rights violations.

But Valles took a different stance – he extended pastoral support to Duterte, even asking the Marcos government to pursue justice “with fairness.”

Davao City and elections

On May 12, Dabawenyos will elect its new leaders in high stakes polls.

Duterte, who remains detained in The Hague, the Netherlands, is seeking his mayoral comeback after nine years. He served as mayor of the city for seven terms – 1988 to 1998; 2001 to 2010; and 2013 to 2016 – before becoming the first Mindanaowon president in 2016.

Duterte’s former Cabinet secretary and acting spokesperson Karlo Nograles is challenging him in the race. If Nograles wins, he will accomplish what his late father, former speaker Prospero Nograles, has failed to do before: defeat Dutertes in the mayoral race.

Nograles’ victory would also put an end into the Dutertes’ 34-year rule over the mayoral post. Only a Duterte has served as mayor since 1988, except in 1998 to 2001.

Apart from Duterte, four other members of his family are seeking posts. His youngest son, Sebastian, is his running mate, while his eldest, Paolo, is seeking a reelection as 1st District representative.

Paolo’s two sons are also in the running. Barangay Buhangin Proper chairperson Omar Vincent Duterte is running as 2nd District representative, while his brother, Rodrigo II or Rigo, is running for councilor.

If all the Dutertes win this elections, there will be a total of seven Dutertes in the local and national political scene. Davao City will also be under their mayoral control for another three years – 37 years in total. – Rappler.com