ASIA/PHILIPPINES - National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies: "There is a need to embody faith in political action"

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "After the 2025 midterm elections, we can say that there is still much to be done to create an authentic political consciousness in the nation. We use the word 'politics' in the noblest and highest sense of the word, namely, as the administration and care of the common good," Father Esteban Lo, a priest from Manila and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in the Philippines, one of the participants in the General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies currently taking place in Rome, told Fides. "When it comes to political elections, the phenomena of vote-buying, corruption, political dynasties, and factionalism affect the entire people, which is, of course, predominantly Catholic. From this, it can be deduced that in these moments, the Catholic conscience, illuminated by faith, struggles to emerge," the National Director added.
"Today, the Filipino people demonstrate great popular piety, but when it comes to issues and practices such as politics, a dichotomy arises. Therefore, we must deepen and assimilate the vision of the Church's social teaching, which we know is a focus of the apostolic ministry of Pope Leo XIV. We must embody faith in political action," he notes.
In the May 12 elections, with a record turnout of nearly 69 million voters, more than 18,000 public offices at all levels of government were filled: Of the 354 seats in the lower house of parliament, the majority went to the coalition formed by the Lakas Party and other parties supporting incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos. In particular, the 12 Senate seats up for grabs (half of the 24 seats that make up the assembly) attracted political and media attention, and at least five went to candidates supporting the Duterte family. The Philippine political system is dominated by two political dynasties, which also faced each other in this election. They are the families of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (son of the former dictator of the same name) and his Vice President Sara Duterte (daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte). The two clans, which had formed an alliance with a view to the 2022 presidential elections, are now in open conflict, and in this context, the midterm elections have become a kind of "referendum" on the dominance of one side or the other. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested and is on trial before the International Criminal Court in The Hague for "crimes against humanity" committed during the "war on drugs" launched during his presidency. And his daughter, Sara, the current Vice President, was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 7, which must be confirmed or overturned by the Senate. Five candidates close to the Marcos alliance won seats in the Senate, five other elected candidates are close to Duterte, while two "independents" received the support of the Duterte clan in the final stages of the campaign, thus being considered part of the opposition. After the election, President Marcos Jr. admitted – also based on polls that showed a significant decline in his popularity and public approval – that people were dissatisfied with the government's performance. "The scenarios are open, and we will see how the political situation evolves," the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies told Fides. "Surely, we are in a time when even the Catholic Church, as a historic institution, no longer has the influence on the conscience of citizens that it had in the past: just think of the non-violent revolution of 1986. The context and culture have changed rapidly." "Our hope," Father Lo concluded, "remains firm because it is anchored in Christ. Our commitment and our mission in society will continue. Ultimately, we can say that everything depends on the Christian witness of our lives." (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 23/5/2025)

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