By FRANKLIN Q. DE GUZMAN
Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate Lingayen-Dagupan
DAGUPAN CITY. — More than 30 judges, lawyers, and volunteers representing the different parishes of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan (ALD) and the Diocese of Alaminos are being trained to serve as legal and paralegal volunteers in the coming elections in Pangasinan.
Attending the Legal and Procedural Concerns Seminar on the May 2010 Automated Elections last Saturday, the participants discussed the importance of accountability not just in the elections but in the entire process of nation-building as well. The group was also introduced to the new electoral process and the legal problems that may arise such as fraud.
Most of the participants would be serving as legal and paralegal volunteers for the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in the archdiocese and diocese that they represent.
One of the participants said their active role in the coming elections was “a duty to our fellowmen and God.”
The event is part of Pangasinan PPCRV’s program to ensure clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful (CHAMP) elections.
Janice Hebron, executive chair of the Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate (ASAP) of ALD, announced the ASAP’s plan to form a community of lawyers who will work for the social action programs of the archdiocese even after the elections.
The seminar was conducted by the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), the first nationwide network of lawyers, law students, paralegals and other trained volunteers set up by various non-partisan groups engaged in election monitoring.