Fr. Carmelo Diola
“An epidemic.”
This was how Fr. Carmelo Diola, executive director of the Dilaab Foundation Inc., described the perennial problem of vote-buying in the Philippines.
Diola spoke during a meeting yesterday to representatives from various sectors of the community to map out strategies and approaches to address corrupt practices during the polls as well as help the electorate select the right candidates for all positions in government.
“We want to have enough time to prepare for the 2016 elections so that our efforts would have a greater impact. Our aim is to reduce vote-buying, help good candidates, and have them elected into office,” Diola said during the meeting at the Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. Media Center yesterday.
Diola also said that Dilaab Foundation won’t endorse candidates whom they think should be chosen by the people.
NONPARTISAN
“Dilaab is nonpartisan. But we will provide mechanisms to help voters make up their minds,” he said.
A key program introduced by Dilaab to help the electorate pick competent and honest leaders was the Circles of Discernment for Empowerment (CiDE).
In the previous elections, Dilaab organized seminars, recollections, training and a couple of campaigns to enlighten the public as well as candidates on what they are supposed to do.
Diola said they are targeting the youth as well as the poor and those in the marginalized sectors specifically the socio-economic class D and E.
“I’m hoping different sectors will come together to mold the conscience of voters. Once we can do this, voters can withstand pressures and other invitations to do bad in the elections,” he said.
Among those present in the meeting yesterday were representatives from the police, Couples For Christ, seminarians and the media.
Dilaab Foundation has conducted house-to-house campaigns that calls for two behavioral changes: First, the rejection of vote-buying and its variations and second, discerning whom to vote for using the Laser test.
LASER TEST
The Laser Test, which stands for lifestyle, action, supporters, election conduct and reputation, is a five-point guide developed in 2007 by the Catholic-based movement to help voters and candidates make choices based on values and realistic criteria such as, ‘Does the candidate have a modest lifestyle? Does he or she have a track record of competence and servant leadership?”
In Feb. 2013, Dilaab Foundation also launched “Vote Good” campaign during the “discernment recollection” for voters and candidates which had Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle for the main speaker.
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