By Movement for Principled Politics in Pampanga and Citizen Journalists Pampanga
SAYING the church cannot remain “nonpolitical,” Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo S. David has challenged Kapampangan voters to find a way of getting involved and participating in politics in a positive way.
“This is a political activity; let us be partisan for truth,” David said in his homily at the sendoff rites for the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)-Pampanga volunteers on May 1 at the Arzobispado of the Archdiocese of San Fernando in Pampanga.
PPCRV-Pampanga has recruited more than 3,000 volunteers to help safeguard the votes and ensure the peaceful conduct of clean and honest elections in the province.
More volunteers are expected to enlist with barely three days to go before Monday’s polls.
Amid rumors of a No-El (no-elections) or failure of elections scenario, PPCRCV-Pampanga has drafted a contingency plan.
David also urged voters to look beyond elections and “engage government pro-actively and positively,” reiterating the challenge he issued during the 2007 elections for PPCRV-Pampanga to transform itself into PPCRP (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Politics).
“After the elections, we tend to forget that there are some things we can do when the new set of officials assume office,” the bishop said. “For instance, we can monitor the utilization of public funds to ensure that these are spent on social services.”
He invited the PPCRV volunteers to join the newly organized Movement for Principled Politics in Pampanga (MP3), a movement that seeks to promote the common good through the practice of good governance and responsible citizenship in the province.
David, chairperson of PPCRV-Pampanga and convenor of MP3, said the movement seeks to engage government in a constructive manner by checking and monitoring its conduct and performance.