Bishops to poll winners: Live up to people’s expectations

Catholic bishops urged the winners of this year’s midterm elections, especially the country’s new senators, to live up to the expectations of the electorate.

Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga hopes that elected officials will “truly” work for the service of the people, not for certain person or political party.

“It is our prayer and hope that they will not fail us, nor fail us again,” said Santos, who chairs the bishops’ Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People.

“Given a fresh mandate, let us pray they will live up to our expectations, and we will not be sorry we have elected them,” he said.

Allies of President Rodrigo Duterte are on their way to dominate the Senate race, partial results from Monday’s polls showed.

Based on partial and unofficial election returns by the Commission on Elections with 94.85 percent of ERs as of 1:53 p.m. Tuesday, it also seems that not a single opposition is becoming a senator.

The prelate said this only showed that many people still place their trust and future to the Duterte administration.

“Our people has spoken. It is their will, and we have to respect it,” Bishop Santos said.

“We appeal that we all work together for peace and prosperity of our country, for better and improved lives of our people,” he added.

Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon, however, could not hide his frustration over the results of the senatorial race.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) had earlier appealed to voters to preserve checks and balances in the government.

The bishops warned that in the country today, such system in governance are being “undermined”.

So far, they said, the Senate is the government institution that is holding out “as our country is inching out towards total control”.

For Bishop Bastes, the outcome was simply “very disappointing”. (CBCPNEWS)