Dilaab Foundation Inc. executive director, Fr. Carmelo Diola, called on the Dumaguete clergy to go down to the grassroots level and openly campaign on a house-to-house basis for people to use their conscience in voting during the May 2016 elections.

Dilaab is a church-based organization in Cebu that launched the “I Vote Good” campaign and while it is not endorsing any particular candidate, it believes that the Church must be actively involved in the upcoming presidential and national elections.

With only about 11 months away to next year's polls, Diola stressed priests and Church-based organizations are encouraged to go on a house-to-house campaign “urging and trying to form the consciences of the people, by calling on them not to sell their votes in whatever form”.

Diola was guest speaker in a forum Tuesday in Dumaguete City, during the clergy meeting of the Diocese of Dumaguete, headed by Bishop Julito Cortes.

He told the priests to use the LASER, or Lifestyle, Accomplishment/Action, Supporters, Election Conduct and Reputation, test when campaigning for values and not persons.

The unexplained wealth of a candidate or a politician's lifestyle will already say enough about that person. Voters should also consider the accomplishments that a candidate has done for the common good, and look into the kind of supporters the candidate has. If they are linked to illegal drugs or gambling, then that would become a basis for a voter to not elect that person into office, Diola said.

The “I Vote Good” campaigner emphasized that they are promoting two changes in the behavior of voters at the barangay level: to shun vote-buying and the discernment on who to vote for, with the use of the LASER test.

The common practice of taking money from politicians during election time but voting with a conscience is not acceptable, Diola stressed. He describes the selling of votes as not just cultural but also social in nature, with people welcoming however little money is given them by politicians.

He said that during election time, the church has a moral obligation in informing the voters and making sure that they vote with their conscience.

He is hopeful that the Diocese of Dumaguete will take on the challenge and also launch the “I Vote Good” campaign.*JFP

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