“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:9-10). As we collective]y discern as one comm unity of disciples for the upcoming 2022 National and Local Elections, the CBCP Commission on Public Affairs & Commission on Social Communications in partnership with the Archdiocese of Manila Office of Communication, Radio Veritas Asia, TV Maria and Radio Veritas846 has spearheaded under its ONE GODLY VOTE Voters’ Education Campaign our very own CATHOLIC E­FORUM or CATHOLIC ELECTION FORUM for President, Vice President and Senator which started last February 14 until April 29, 2022 aired live via Radio Veritas846 and via its social media account at www.facebook.com/DZRV846 from Monday to Friday, 8:00-10:00 in the morning.

This E-Forum was specially designed as a One-On-One Discussion with a Candidate (giving him/her more time to share his/her insights); and highlights purely Catholic Issues and Advocacies. And though done online, the collective media assets of the Catholic Church in the Philippines shall likewise collaboratively pursue the integrated broadcast of this E-FORUM to all its parishes nationwide via TV, Radio and social media.

Everyone is invited to listen and to discern as we prepare ourselves to responsib1y exercise our sacred right of suffrage in these upcoming polls. We likewise invite all parish-based social communication ministries to help disseminate this forum in all your social media platforms. Let us collectively use this opportunity to truly reflect upon the candidate who will faithfully embody our Catho1ic Values and Ideals of being MAKA­D IYOS, MAKA-BAY AN, MAKA-TAO, MAKA-KA LIKA SAN and MAGA L ING.

WHY IS THIS CATHOLIC E-FORUM SIGNIFICANT? A lack of information about elections and its candidates can weaken the accountability of elected public servants and, consequently, voting choices. Giving voters access to information through forums and debates between rival candidates can significantly improve their knowledge and increase democratic participation.

During the E-Forum, each candidate will likewise sign a T.R.U.T.H. Covenant which stipulates as follows:

We, as leaders of this country, pledge to support and promote the right of every Filipino to vote;

We pledge to advocate Truthful, Responsible, Upright, Transparent & Honest (T.R.U.T.H.) Elections in this 2022 Synchronized National & Local Polls.

We pledge to support campaigns that aim to motivate the Filipino people take responsibility for the country by participating in the polls. We also exert great effort and exhaust all means to encourage every Filipino to responsibly exercise their right to suffrage;

We pledge to avoid resorting to the politics of personalities and patronage, to refrain from using guns, goons and gold;

We pledge to strongly admonish our relatives, friends, followers and supporters to desist from using violence, deceit, fraud and other unfair and dishonest practices.

We will uphold the credibility and the integrity of the remaining campaign period and election process and the dignity of the Filipino people;

We will uphold the constitution and support T.R.U.T.H. (Truthful, Responsible, Upright, Transparent & Honest) Elections on May 9, 2022;

We will remember always that we are God’s steward on earth and must therefore promote at all times a safe, clean and wholesome environment and an unequivocal respect and reverence for life;

We commit ourselves to this covenant signed during the Catholic E-Forum aired over Radio Veritas846.

“A democracy is a project of never-ending participation and in between elections, it takes the form of making our representatives answerable to the people,” Cardinal Tagle reminds us. “Whether our choice won in the elections, our responsibility to participate does not end after we cast our ballots … participation in a democratic process is a daily event [so] make your voice heard and make our representatives accountable to the common good”.

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