There are many ways we can ensure that 2022 elections place genuine servant-leaders:
- Ensure voter’s registration which ends on September 30, 2021;
- Conduct and participate in Voter’s Education Campaigns and Promote People’s Issues and the Need for Genuine Servant Leaders, with special attention to political education among Church people (i.e duty of Christian engagement in politics);
- Support efforts of people’s organisations in promoting and protecting people’s rights and welfare;
- Promote candidates with known probity and integrity on human rights, good governance, love of country;
- Reject candidates whose record and affiliation enable injustice, oppression and corruption;
- Reject efforts for No Election scenario through Charter Change and fake bandwagon promoting anointees or proxies of the incumbent;
- Prepare Electoral Watchdog formations, conduct trainings against poll fraud in the automated elections as well as efforts to militarise communities. Volunteer especially in community-level formations;
- 8. Join and build alliances like 1Sambayan, Kontra Daya, People’s Choice Movement
More than anything, the elections should serve in strengthening people’s collective actions towards social justice. Christian groups form a potent political force whose task to conscientize the people go hand in hand in prayer and action. In the face of tyranny and brazen disregard for human life and dignity, our moral duty is to speak out. We have a key role to support and be one with the people as a flock, for our voices to be heard louder.
History is made by people as agents of change, let us choose to be on the right side.
Finally, let us be reminded of Proverbs 31:9
Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.
i IBON Foundation 2021 Yearend Starter, January 2021
ii Ibid.
iii JASIG-protected individuals of both parties have the freedom to discuss and promote the peace negotiations across the country, and cannot be arrested or charged in the courts.
iv https://www.rappler.com/nation/philippines-rankings-corruption-perception-index-2020
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