Malacanang told voters not to base their choice for the coming May 13, 2013 Elections on a single issue.
This statement came out after the White Vote Movement endorsed its six senatorial candidates.
Three senatoriables came from the Liberal Party (LP) and another three are from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Bro. Mike Velarde, head of the White Vote Movement and leader of El Shaddai endorsed UNA’s Joseph Victor “JV” Estrada, Gringo Honasan, and Mitos Magsaysay; and Team PNoy’s Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Cynthia Villar.
This group was identified as those who opposed the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, which President Benigno Aquino III signed into law December last year.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda reminded the public that when elected, senators would have to tackle various issues; voters should look at their different advocacies and their complete package, and not on a single issue only.
Moreover, the Palace was not convinced that the position taken by the movement reflects the sentiments of the entire Catholic Church.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Soc Villegas said he does not agree with church groups endorsing candidates for the upcoming elections.
Villegas, the vice-president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) wrote in a pastoral letter that there are chances that endorsed candidates might win but it reduces religion into a political party.
This way, religion has been used for political gain and the spiritual mission of the church has been compromised, Villegas also said in the pastoral letter.
The correct Catholic vote according to the archbishop is voting through your conscience.
Villegas also said that the Church must restore the confidence of the citizen in prayer which is the most important untapped resource in nation building that is often ignored and ridiculed.
He reminded bishops, priests and laity that they can contribute to the upcoming elections by praying to God that every voter and candidate be given divine guidance in doing their roles responsibly.
