Filipino bishop calls on people to elect genuine leaders in May polls

Borongan Diocese Bishop Crispin B. Varquez, D.D., has appealed to the faithful to vote for leaders who truly serve the people and country in the May national and local elections.

In a pastoral letter dated January 5, 2025, the bishop lamented widespread corruption, political dynasties, and politicians who take advantage of the economic situation of the poor by vote-buying.

Corruption is rampant in the country, and to some degree including Eastern Samar, Varquez observed. 

“The hard-earned money of the people, collected as taxes, is often lost” to misuse and malversation of public funds, he said. “Political dynasties persist. Money has become the primary means to win elections. Vote-buying has become commonplace.”

The use of money in the candidates’ bid for elective public office would undermine honest and competent governance, Varquez noted.

Public funds are also politicized by some leaders, he said. Government assistance is distributed by politicians. 

The social welfare department is the legitimate instrument that distributes assistance, not elective officials. “Needless to say, our poor are often prey to partisan manipulation,” Varquez said.

Environmental destruction is also alarming, he stated. The worsening condition in Homonhon Island, and Manicani Island in Eastern Samar due to mining is proof of destruction to the environment.

Politicians are supposed to serve, not enrich themselves in public office, the bishop noted.

Quoting Pope Francis, Varquez said the “just ordering of society and the state is a central responsibility of politics. The "Church cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice" because it is “a constitutive dimension of preaching of the Gospel." 

According to Varquez, the Church must constantly remind leaders of good governance. The electorate should vote for leaders who genuinely embody politics as a public service. 

“Moreover, Pope Francis adds a higher perspective,” Varquez said. “He asserts that ‘politics is one of the highest forms of charity.’ It is therefore a noble calling that demands our commitment to the common good. Any candidate who stands for, or exemplifies, anything less does not deserve to be elected.”

He invited every citizen to actively engage in the May elections.

“Engage in discussions, educate yourself on the candidates, and encourage others to do the same,” he said. “Together, we can create a brighter future for our beloved country, for our province and build the environment we cherish.”

Varquez invited the people to make a united stand and demand accountability, integrity, and genuine leadership. 

He called on the people to reject leaders who fatten themselves with taxpayers’ money by corruption, and leaders who are involved in the destruction of the environment.

Varquez enjoined the people to elect leaders who genuinely serve the country and protect the environment.

“It is time to reclaim our democracy and protect our planet not only for ourselves but also for the sake of the generations to come,” he said. “The words of the Lord ‘Whatever you did to the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me,’ certainly include them too.”