Church releases 10 commandments for responsible voting

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archdiocese Episcopal Vicar Monsignor Esteban Binghay urged every Cebuano Catholic voter to reflect and follow the guidelines for responsible voting that was recently released by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

Contained in a booklet entitled “Pinoy Big Voter”, the 10 Commandments for Responsible Voting is a voter’s education manual according to a report in the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News.

PPCRV released these guidelines in order to give awareness to all the people, especially Catholic voters, on how to choose the right candidates in the upcoming May 2013 elections.

Binghay said that the said organization has always been releasing these guidelines every election period and has been refining them to make them doable.

“It has always been published to be made known as a reminder to all voters in order for them to vote wisely and conscientiously,” Binghay said.

Binghay praised the PPCRV for the move as the latter made it more available to the public with a much better expression for voter’s awareness.

“This is a very good one. Gi-refine ni nila ang mga guidelines every time to make it more doable, more attractive and palatable to the voters. The people should reflect on the guidelines made so that they can vote properly,” Binghay said.

The Church’s social teachings, compilation of various pastoral statements of the Catholic hierarchy on elections and information about the automated election system are some of the topics included in the said manual.

“We really need these guidelines to be practiced and spread here, because even though these are made in Manila, but we are the same voters, this will really guide us in the coming elections,” Binghay ended. — (FREEMAN)