Interfaith group endorses 10 Senate aspirants

MANILA, Philippines — Ten senatorial candidates—eight from the opposition slate—received endorsement from a religious movement composed of Catholic, Evangelical and Protestant lay leaders.

Ricky Xavier, chair of People’s Choice Movement, said the group believes the 10 senatorial candidates will be “servant-leaders.”

“We’re looking for men of character, men of integrity and men who will seek power not for themselves but to help people,” Xavier said in an interview on ANC’s “Early Edition” Wednesday.

PCM would support candidates from the Otso Diretso slate: Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Sen. Bam Aquino, lawyer Chel Diokno, civic leader Samira Gutoc, former solicitor general Florin Hilbay, election lawyer Romy Macalintal, former Interior and Local Government chief Mar Roxas and former deputy speaker Erin Tañada.

The inter-faith group would also back the candidacies of Sen. Grace Poe and former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares.

Xavier noted that the group’s roster highlights the “more important issues right now that need to be addressed” such as corruption and political dynasties and do not reflect candidates’ positions on issues such as divorce and same-sex union.

“They may not be supported by the Catholic Church but we are not speaking for the Catholic Church; we are speaking for the lay Catholics and Christians,” he said.

Former Sen. Serge Osmeña and labor leader Leody De Guzman almost made it to PCM’s list but the group wanted their members to select two candidates on their own.

“It was the consensus of the group when we met to give our people the opportunity to make a choice—of someone they know personally, who they believe in their hearts as a good person,” Xavier said. — Gaea Katreena Cabico