BALANGA CITY — Bataan Bishop Ruperto C. Santos on Thursday urged the electorates and the candidates to ponder on the just concluded elections and learn from it so that whatever bad or good that happened will be a guide for the next polls.
“Ang ating pagboto ay naganap na subalit hindi natin ito iiwanan. Hindi natin ito kakaligtaan. Balikan natin upang pagnilayan, upang matuto at upang maging mabuting paggabay sa mga darating pang halalan,” the Diocese of Balanga prelate said.
He said that there are still other elections coming. “Nawa ay atin rin masasabi at maipagmamalaki na tayo ay tulad ng iba at nila, na bumoto ng malaya, ng tunay at tapat, at hindi nagpadala dahil sa maibibigay o matatanggap. Hindi na namili o namilit.”
He said that nothing has been hidden from God for He knows everything that happened even during the elections.
“Kung tayo man ay lumabag sa Kanyang mga kautusan, ang lahat ng ito ay ating pagsisihan. Kung tayo man ay sa ating salita at gawa higit sa lahat noong halalan ay hindi nakapagdulot ng pagpaparangal sa Kanyang kadakilaan, tayo ngayon ay magtika at mangako na hindi na ito magaganap na muli sa ating pamumuhay,” Santos said.
“Kung ginawa natin na makabili o makakuha at makaisa sa ating kapwa na naging sanhi sa paglabag sa karapatan ng bawat isa at dangal ng pagboto, ito ngayon ay atin nang talikuran, itama ang ating namamaling pakikitungo at ituwid ang masasamang pag-uugali,” he added.
Santos said that we must admit that there can still be change and it must start from ourselves.
“Kaya pa rin natin tumanggi sa mali, sa tukso ng salapi o grocery at huwag nang tumanggap o kaya ay mamigay. Magagawa pa rin natin pumili, sumulat at kumilos ayon sa isinasaad ng ating konsensiya, batay sa moralidad at wastong asal at batay sa mga Kautusan ng Panginoong Diyos,” the prelate said.
He said that we can still hope that candidates without money, power and fame can win during the elections for God knows everyone’s heart.
The bishop urged everyone to remember “Ako ay Bataeno, may takot sa Panginoong Diyos, may pagpapahalaga sa ating lalawigan at may pagmamahal sa aking kapwa!”
He said, however, that the wrong done is not only what everyone should remember during the last polls.
He said men and women of the Philippine National Police, the Commission on Elections, teachers and members of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, Philippine Army, Department of the Interior and Local Government and even the local media should also be remembered and thanked for their efforts during the elections.
“Maraming salamat sa inyong pakikinig at pagtanggap sa ating mga liham pastoral na ating inilathala sa ating diocesan website. Maraming salamat sa inyong pagtupad at pagsunod sa ating peace covenant signing na inihanda ng atin mga butihing PNP Bataan at ng provincial Comelec,” said Santos who is PPCRV Central Luzon episcopal coordinator.
