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Philippine lay group vows to deliver ‘Catholic vote’ on May 9 national elections

"I believe that with prayer and action, we can deliver the Catholic vote," said Raymond Daniel Cruz Jr., president of Laiko

The head of the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (Council of the Laity of the Philippines) said his organization will deliver the “Catholic vote” in the country’s national elections on May 9.

“We are calling for an orchestrated lay-initiated campaign to give our Catholic vote to our countrymen,” said Raymond Daniel Cruz Jr., president of Laiko in an interview over Veritas 846.

“I believe that with prayer and action, we can deliver the Catholic vote,” he said, adding that a “Catholic vote” is the unified votes of Catholics who follow the teachings of the Church.



“I believe there is a Catholic vote if we’re talking about common good and the advancement of peoples through holistic and orchestrated lay-initiated campaigns,” said Cruz.

The lay leader said active participation in ensuring an honest election process should be initiated by lay organizations.

In February, the council’s board members endorsed the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo, a first in the organization’s history.

“With our current political-economic turmoil and the pandemic situation in the Philippines, we firmly believe that Robredo, a God-fearing person, is the most capable candidate for the Presidency, and we urge our constituents, if possible, to consider the same,” the group’s leaders said in a statement.

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The Council of the Laity of the Philippines, which is under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference’s Episcopal Commission on the Laity, consists of more than 50 lay organizations in 86 dioceses across the country.

Meanwhile, individual prison ministry chaplains, workers and volunteers affiliated with the Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care declared their support for Robredo’s presidential candidacy and that of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.

In a statement, the group said they came up with the decision “after intense discernment sessions.”

“This decision was arrived at after seriously considering their good character, personal integrity, track-record of service in the government, commitment to uphold good governance and practices, ability to enter and implement partnerships and programs for the advancement of the people especially the poor and marginalized,” read the group’s statement.

“We believe that they are the best possible choices among the other candidates,” it added.

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