Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma celebrates Chrism Mass on April 11 at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. | Rosalie O. Abatayo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Those politicians who can’t spare the Holy Week for their campaign should at least keep their activities decent and morally clean.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma has urged candidates for the upcoming May 2019 midterm elections to keep their campaign stunts clean and dismiss any illegal or immoral propaganda as a form of respect to the observance of the Holy Week.
Palma, in an interview on Thursday, said while they were praying that politicians would spare the week-long religious celebration.
He said that it was inevitable that some candidates would still push through with their campaign activities.
READ MORE: Palma ask politicians to have ‘pure’ intentions
“Unta hatagan nato og panahon nga mamalandong sa gugma sa Diyos pinaagi sa iyang pagpasakit pero di man gyud malikayan kay ang mga pulitiko anxious man na sila sa resulta sa ilang kampanya,” Palma said.
(We wish that they make use of this time to ponder and reflect on the love of God through his sacrifices, but we can’t stop politicians from pushing through with their activities since they are anxious in their desire to win.)
“Pero atong punto, we follow the rules nga dili atong pamaagi nga sayop, immoral, illegal. Magsaysay lang unta sa mga plataporma,” the prelate said.
(Our point it, we should follow the rules and not on the wrong, immoral and illegal. They should focus on their platforms.)
The prelate also reminded voters to be wise in making their choices and choose persons who would “guide the country towards real change.”
Palma, in earlier statements, maintained that the church will stay away from politics and will not make any endorsement for a group or an individual seeking a post in the government.
READ MORE: Palma: Church to stay away from politics
“Ang mas importante tingali is not so much on the hands that are raised or endorsed by the politician or the powers that be, but it should be the hands that vote. Mao na nga unta we vote wisely, we vote for the right people nga makadala og kaayuhan sa atong nasud,” Palma said.
(Perhaps, what is more important is not so much on the hands that were raised or endorsed by the politician or the powers that be, but it should be the hands that vote. That is why we should vote wisely. We vote for the right people that can make our country better. /dbs