Oro prelate campaigns for 'Champ' elections

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2015/11/08/oro-prelate-campaigns-champ-elections-440417
• Sunday, November 8, 2015

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

NONPARTISAN organizations brought to the streets their call for a 'Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful, Peaceful' (Champ) elections in 2016 at Kiosko Kagawasan, Divisoria in Cagayan de Oro City on Saturday, November 7.

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro enumerated three reminders to some 1,000 individuals: circles of discernment, principled partisan politics, and politics as a noble profession to achieve the Champ kind of elections in 2016.

"The first one (circles of discernment), nagpasabot na kita dapat dili mag-inusara, dapat atong kalambigit ang atong pamilya, aron uban na mamalandong ug mag-inambitay kung kinsa ang matuod na pilion. Ang ikaduha na sugyot (principled partisan politics), naga-ingon na dapat atong ipagawas ang atong prinsipyo ug baruganan alang sa katarungan sa pili-ay," Ledesma said.

"Ug ang ikatulo mao ang giingon kanato ni Papa Francisco that politics is a noble profession, a highest form of charity, ang atong hagit sa atong mga kandidato na gamiton kini na hagit to exercise well this highest form of charity for the good of the people," Ledesma added.

He urged Kagay-anons to follow these reminders as these will help achieve peaceful 2016 elections.

Carl Cabaraban, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible for Voting (PPCRV) coordinator, also urged Kagay-anons to know the worth of one's vote.

"I believe we still have hope for a CHAMP elections, this is why naningkamot gayud mi to raise this public awareness by conducting political education, eventually unta we would really come to a point wherein vote-selling and vote-buying would be eradicated nationwide," Cabaraban said in an interview.

Cabaraban asked politicians to avoid election–related violence and to 'stick to the rule of law,' citing sportsmanship as an important attitude for a potential candidate.

"Kung kinsay mudaog, kung kinsay mapildi, dapat dawaton nato, they should be running not only for self-interests but for the collective interest," Cabaraban added.

Meanwhile, Lilia Catoto, 23, resident of Barangay Patag, said the change must emanate from the people.

"Kung walay mudawat sa kwarta, mawala man pud gayud ng vote-buying. Unta ning mga tao tan-awon nila na kita ray luoy kung masayop ta ug pili kay tunogd lang nasilaw ta sa kwarta," Catoto said.

Albert Vergara, 40, a Barangay Kauswagan resident, urged fellow Kagay-anons to be as honest as they can be during elections. "Kung gipalit ang imong boto, sama ra pud na na nangilad ka sa imong kaugalingon. Diha nalang ba gayud ta taman, paliton lang?" Vergara asserted.

Kagay-anons brought with them placards and wore t-shirts with texts: 'No to Political Dynasty!', 'No to Political Patronage!', 'No to Vote-buying and selling!’, 'Huwag Kang Magnanakaw!', 'My Vote is Not for Sale', No More Nepotism', among others

The event was participated by different inter-faith organizations, barangay officials, movements advocating for clean elections, school institutions, police and military forces, and supporters of local candidates were also present.