Bishop advises Filipino-American voters on right choice

A Catholic bishop yesterday urged Filipinos who will be casting their votes in the US presidential election on Tuesday to choose the candidate who best represents the values and principles of Filipinos and Catholics.

Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos said Filipinos here and in the United States are watching the close race between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump.

“To Filipinos who are entitled to vote, I say vote for the person who best represents the core values and principles that you uphold as Filipinos and as Catholics,” he advised Filipinos.

There are around 3.8 million Filipino-Americans in the United States, 2.8 million of which are potential voters in the contested race.

Santos, chair of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant People, identified six qualities which he said the right candidate should possess.

“Respect for life and for the dignity of a person, for compassion to the lowly and the needy, honesty, integrity, love for freedom, and moral uprightness,” Santos said.

“These are the qualities we ask of our own leaders in our native land. These are qualities that will serve people of every race in any nation,” he said.

He said many Filipinos, even in the Philippines, are watching the heated race with much interest but “there has been no poll to indicate the preferences of Filipinos there between the two protagonists.”

“We wish the United States well and pray that the democratic processes they adhere to will not be thwarted and instead lead them to peace, liberty and respect for all peoples,” the bishop said.