ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Local Church invited to four-party government summit to guarantee free and transparent elections,

Tuesday, 30 January 2007

Manila (Agenzia Fides) - To draft a plan of action to ensure general elections (scheduled for May 14) are free of violence and fraud and guarantee regular transparent vote the Philippines government has called a special four-party summit to which representatives of the local Catholic community have also been invited. The four parties are the Election Commission, the Police, the Bishops’ Conference and civil groups charged with monitoring the election. President Gloria Arroyo said the purpose of the meeting was to assign roles for a peaceful election: monitoring also in remote areas; control regularity of the procedures to prevent fraud; guarantee transparency in the flow of public money.
The summit is a response to a recent Catholic Bishops’ call on the government to make a greater effort to ensure transparency in the May voting to elect a new parliament.
Gloria Arroyo said the government “will guarantee a democratic process”, although some observers question the credibility and honesty of the president involved in a corruption scandal in presidential elections in 2004.
The Catholic Bishops welcomed the summit: “this was a good move, a concrete step, following our appeal with regard to the May election”, said Bishop Antonio Ledesma of the diocese of Cagayan de Oro vice-president of the Bishops’ Conference. “Let us hope it will ensure transparent, honest and credible elections. Our network of Centres for Social Action are ready, our volunteers and our resources at all levels for the good of the country are mobilised”, the bishop said. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/1/2007 righe 25 parole 259)


Share: