Just three days ago, I wrote about three priests, who despite their being defrocked and suspended from clerical duties, persisted on running for elective positions in local communities, where their parishes are located.
And then I also wrote about a corneal surgeon who wants to run for senator in a least known party, but whose standard bearers are hugely- publicized and chronicled in mass media and social media, so perhaps this gives her a chance to win.
There are also well-known celebs who think their popularity is enough to win them local and national positions even if they run as independent or in lesser- known affiliations.
I keep asking myself, is it really service that drives people to seek elective positions, or is it self-pride and boosting their egos (should they win the race) that make them spend so much time, effort and money to gain the public’s trust?
And what gives them the courage to run—are their moneys so excessive that they don’t anymore know how to spend it and would rather splurge on a race, whose outcomes will give them a high, win or lose?
Apart from themselves, who do they trust to deliver the outcomes they desire, a machinery, a party or their active social media presence?
These are things that bog me every election and I can’t help but wonder why even those has-beens and little-known figures in society are courageous enough to run for elections.
Another issue that puzzles me is why, increasingly, priests are eyeing elective posts—even to the point of being accused of using the pulpit for their political agendas—and risk being suspended for good.
Three days ago, I wrote that at least three Catholic priests have been suspended from their clerical duties for seeking elective positions in the coming May national and local elections. They are Fr. Granwell Pitapit of the diocese of Libmanan in Camarines Sur; Fr. Emmanuel Alparce of the Diocese of Sorsogon and Fr. Emerson Luego of the Diocese of Tagum, Davao del Norte who is running as mayor of Mabini town, Davao de Oro.
Pitapit will run for mayor in Libmanan, while Alparce is running for councilor of Bacacay town in Albay.
Bishop Jose Rojas of Bicol asserted that church laws prohibit priests from playing a role in politics.
And why on earth did everyone in the Catholic church forget that the late Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin played a very crucial political role in all elections during and after Martial law until his death?
He was even instrumental in calling for the People Power Revolution at EDSA.
Methinks this is being hypocritical—that the higher up in the church hierarchy one is he becomes more untouchable and is not punished for his political machinations and pronouncements while those in the lower rung are suspended even for just running in a race that we all know they can easily lose because they do not have the party, the money and the machinery to campaign. All they have is a sincerity in themselves and, I hope, for the people.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, in its website, said Camarines Sur Bishop Jose Rojas said Fr. Granwell Pitapit violated the Canon Law, which indicated priests may not be involved in politics.
Canon Law
If the Canon law had been applied to Cardinal Sin and others who are delivering sermons against certain officials and those in power so that people would be influenced enough not to vote them back, why was this same law not applied to the late cardinal?
Under Canon Law 285, clerics are banned to assume public offices "which [entailed] a participation in the exercise of civil power."
“Such suspension is deemed irreversible, thus preventing him permanently from returning to the priestly ministry,” Rojas wrote in a circular dated Oct. 22 but sent to the media on Tuesday.
With this suspension, Rojas said Pitapit would no longer be involved with the social action programs of the diocese.
The bishop said Pitapit was still mandated to follow his priestly vows such as celibacy.
“Such vows, therefore, continue to bind him and can only be completely suppressed through the process of laicization,” Rojas said.
“Nonetheless, Fr. Pitapit is now free, without incurring further canonical censure, to engage in secular undertakings that do not violate his priestly vows,” he added.
Rojas, who has jurisdiction over the archdiocese of Libmanan, informed the public that with Pitapit's departure from the priestly ministry, he no longer represents the diocese and the Church "in any way."
In particular, he said the priest will no longer be involved with the social action programs of the diocese.
"He is, therefore, not authorized to make any solicitations in the name of the Church, and neither in relation to any pro-poor programs sponsored by the Church and the diocese," Rojas added.
Binding vows
But the prelate, who also heads the doctrinal office of the episcopal conference, stressed that the cleric's suspension does not necessarily mean dispensation from his priestly vows such as celibacy. (But what about those priests and bishops who had been mentioned in various news reports and exposes before the Vatican involved pedophilia? Why are they not being punished?)
"Such vows, therefore, continue to bind him and can only be completely suppressed through the process of laicization," the prelate said.
Alparce and Emerson Luego had been suspended earlier for the same reason. Both priests also previously headed the social action ministry of their respective dioceses.
Extreme cases
Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani Jr. meanwhile said there are extreme cases when a priest can run but must secure the permission of the bishop.
“Without the permission of his bishop, there are consequences for his performance as a priest," he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas on Tuesday.
Bacani said that as a citizen, a priest has the right to lead but as a church servant, his involvement in politics is just to guide the electorate in choosing their leaders.
“We priests should be involved in politics but we should not be political. We are involved as priests and not as politicians. Ours is not to hold government power but to guide the people to live and choose the right leaders,” Bacani said.
A Catholic bishop in the Philippines has warned priests against seeking public office after candidates began this week filing their intention to run in mid-term elections next year.
Politics is not part of a priest's task, said Bishop Buenaventura Famadico of San Pablo, head of the Episcopal Commission on Clergy. "Let us leave the task of serving in government to the laity because if we do that it is as if we have failed in our task," said the prelate.
He said the task of a priest is "to spread God's word and guide the faithful."
Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga said he would not allow any member of the clergy in his diocese to run.
"I am definitely against it, and never will I allow any of my priests to run for office," said the prelate, adding that a priest "cannot serve two masters."
"As priests, we are already serving the people, and we serve without any perks, privileges nor personal interests. Priests are for and only for God," said Bishop Santos.
He said priests who run for public office betray their "divine calling."
In the past, there were priests who ran and won elections, but they either left the priesthood or were suspended from priestly duties.
Father Jeemar Lucero Vera Cruz removed his cassock after announcing his decision to run for public office during a Mass. He filed his certificate of candidacy for vice mayor of Iligan City on Oct. 15.
Father Vera Cruz, vicar general of Iligan Diocese, is seeking to become vice mayor of the city in northern Mindanao. He came under fire from critics who accused him of using the pulpit for his political ambition. But he said he needs to transform the city after the arrest of the city mayor, who is facing charges of conspiring in the attempted murder of a congressman.
"This is about justice and standing up for and hearing the cry of the poor," Vera Cruz told ucanews.com.
He said he is running for office to help families still suffering after falling victim to the devastation brought by Typhoon Washi, which struck the southern Philippines in 2011.
Almost four years after the tragedy, the housing needs of hundreds of families are still unmet despite millions of pesos of funding pouring into the city, the priest said.
In Catarman Diocese in the central Philippines, Father Walter Cerbito has announced his candidacy for governor of Northern Samar province.
"Now is the time for Northern Samar to rise, for someone to stand up for real change," said Cerbito.
Retired priest Jack Sasu, from the same diocese, also filed his candidacy to become a councilor in the provincial capital, Catarman.
Corneal surgeon
Ophthalmologist Dr. Minquita Padilla, whose closest exposure to civil service, is her stint as head executive staff of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) and as adviser of the Department of Health, is vying for a Senate seat in the hope of bringing her experience in properly implementing the Universal Healthcare law and improve the healthcare program of the country, which has been exposed of its grand defects during this pandemic.
Her candidacy is being endorsed by the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology, Inc. (PAO), the Philippine Cornea Society Inc. (PCSI) and the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS), which released press statements expressing their support for her. She chairs the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines.
Running under a least known political party, the Partido Reporma, of presidential aspirant, Senator Panfilo Lacson and his runningmate, Senate President Tito Sotto. Dr. Padilla’s credential and experiences will be a great help in her senatorial bid.
Her decision to run as senator stemmed from her frustration at the administration’s response to the pandemic. Shortly after filing her certificate of candidacy on October 6, Padilla told reporters that if elected she would push for health reforms.
Her plans include battling medical misinformation, fighting corruption, and addressing irregularities in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Padilla has also championed COVID-19 vaccination and called on the government to ease restrictions for those who have been vaccinated against the disease.
Padilla, who led the medical team of Presidential Adviser Joey Concepcion’s Project ARK (Antibody Rapid Test Kit), is the latest member of the medical profession to signify interest in running for public office to help address the health crisis.
Days before filing her COC, Padilla criticized the “epic corruption” in the administration, whose officials are being accused of mishandling taxpayers’ money and profiting during the pandemic in the purchase of pandemic items, mishandling of public funds by the DoH and the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management.