Lent and elections

In less than three weeks, we shall commemorate God's plan for our salvation through the passion, crucifixion, and resurrection of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. In less than three months, we shall also have our elections in this country.

Shall we offer and lift to God all our united prayers this Lent for God's elect to be chosen in a clean, honest electoral process in May? Shall we offer special daily prayers in our home, in our churches, in our schools, in our offices for clean and honest elections this May?

So much to pray for, so many to pray for as well.

May God shower our people with the wisdom to choose genuine public servants. May God instill in the hearts of our people His will and sense of honesty and truth. May God lead our people to consider their votes as sacred and not for sale to the highest bidder. May God guide the Comelec and those entrusted to guard the people's votes to be transparent, honest, and efficient. May God inspire everyone to implore His mercy, protection, and love so that only the truly qualified and God-blessed leaders are elected this May.

Our recent field visits to various communities in Cebu and Bohol confirmed for us the continuing grassroots attempt to control the votes of our rural voters. Buying of votes has become an accepted practice before and during elections. By now, we pray the Comelec knows how vote-buying proceeds so that the proper authorities can anticipate and prevent any further vote-buying or harassment of voters from taking place in this year's elections.

For example, if it is true that city community leaders are promised a million pesos each for a straight 11-0 votes in their respective areas, then what can Comelec and the concerned public do about this? If it is true that a local town mayor is threatening to stop assistance to the Pantawid beneficiaries if they vote for the opposition or if is true that the same town mayor continues to withhold PhilHealth and senior citizens card issuance to non-supporters, again, what can Comelec and those concerned about genuine, clean, and honest elections do to prevent these irregular election-related harassment from scaring and influencing the votes of the residents?

I asked how vote-buying takes place and several answers were given. In one scenario, signals (senyales) are exchanged among those engaged in influencing or tampering with the votes of the public. The signals communicate who voted for whom and then payments are made in various places after the votes have been cast and ascertained to have gone the way of the candidate buying the votes.

In another case, voters are allowed to cast their votes in the precincts but they have been earlier forewarned that if the votes do not turn out positive for the candidate, the said candidate's goons with guns will visit the communities and households that voted against this candidate. The goons and guns can also already be visible during the campaign period or within and after elections.

In yet another example, copies of votes of each resident are said to be made inside the precinct, exactly how, we are not clear about.

If our readers can send us clear examples of vote-buying or electoral harassment or vote-tampering, please send us or Comelec so that, prayerfully, Comelec and the vigilant concerned Filipinos can start a campaign to thwart any further attempt to influence and force the votes of our people in the coming elections? Can you also send us your concrete suggestions for safeguarding the sacredness and independence of votes of each and every Filipino? We hope to write more about how our May elections can be made more transparent, clean and protective of the votes of our people and their independence to make their own choices minus bribe, vote-buying, goods, guns, and other forms of coercion.

Lent is a time of prayers and dialogue with the Lord, most especially to thank Him for His continuing care and protection for us all and our country. Shall we please include prayers for clean and honest elections during this Lenten season? Shall we offer our supplication to God to spare us and to thwart the evil designs of abusive and unqualified candidates, and to lead us all to choose His chosen public servants for our land and our people?

Together with prayers, Lent can also be used as the opportunity to serve God and our people more by uniting together to install systems that will discourage or disallow any abusive or dishonest act to tamper with the freedom of our people to select and cast their own votes for candidates of their own choice.

Please start your prayer teams and brigades where you can. With unity and collaboration, please also start planning and implementing plans and action that can ensure honest and transparent campaigns and elections.

Many will probably scoff at our naive suggestions for prayers and united actions for better elections since they will say, vote-buying and dishonest elections have become a way of life for our voters. We totally disagree. There is always the open opportunity to start anew, to start what is right for God and for our people. Also, united with God, He will make all things possible.