Over 100 Jesuits back Robredo-Kiko

MANILA, Philippines — Over 100 members of the religious order Society of Jesus have endorsed the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Francis Pangilinan in the upcoming elections.

“We believe that VP Leni and Senator Kiko display the least self-interest and are the most capable and morally credible to promote truth and social justice, protect our democratic principles and freedoms and pursue our vision for our nation,” the Jesuits said in a statement.

“Using the lens of the Catholic social teaching and following the call of Pope Francis to be politically responsible in view of human dignity and the common good, we issue this statement not as the position of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus or the institutions we serve in, but as an expressed of our hopes for our people and of our personal discernment about the forthcoming national and local elections,” they added.

Among the signatories were Ateneo de Manila University president Roberto Yap, former Ateneo de Manila president Jose Ramon Villarin, Ateneo de Cagayan-Xavier University president Mars Tan and Ateneo de Naga University’s Roberto Exequiel Rivera.

In a separate statement, Society of Jesus provincial superior Primitivo Viray Jr. said they allow individuals and institutions in the Jesuit Philippine provers to express their preferences for candidates for national offices.

Various religious groups or individuals from religious organizations have endorsed Robredo’s presidential bid – the De La Salle Brothers of the Taft Community, Missionary Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica’s Priory, Vincentian Family Philippines, Couples for Christ International Council and the leadership of the Council of the Laity of the Philippines.

Earlier, some 500 priests, nuns and religious brothers from the group “Pari Madre Misyonero Para Kay Leni” also issued a joint statement supporting the Vice President. –  Robertzon Ramirez