MANILA, May 7, 2013— A coalition of Catholic groups has denied endorsing senatorial candidates Benigno “Bam” Aquino and Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay.
The White Vote Movement, an alliance of at least 50 of the Catholic Church’s biggest lay and pro-life organizations, said they only have endorsed 10 candidates who are all against a contraceptives law.
“Our campaign is to eliminate all the pro-RH people,” said Atty. Aurora Santiago, president of the Council of the Laity in the Philippines.
Aquino was among those endorsed by the “The Purple Ribbon for RH Movement” for their supportive stance on the controversial measure.
“They are really pro-RH people,” she said.
Santiago added that White Vote has only endorsed senatorial candidates who are committed to fight “anti-life and anti-family” measures and would push for the repeal of the RH law.
They are Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito Estrada, Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Richard “Dick” Gordon, Marwil Llasos, and Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.
Bro. Mike Velarde of the El Shaddai, which is also part of the White Vote Movement, endorsed the candidacies of Bam Aquino and Jun Magsaysay on Tuesday.
However, Fr. Melvin Castro of the CBCP’s Commission on Family and Life said that Velarde’s endorsement was only for the El Shaddai.
“The El Shaddai community endorsed these two but not the White Vote Movement,” Castro said.
Castro also said that White Vote has already distributed sample ballots to different dioceses since last Sunday containing the names of senatorial bets that they recommend to the faithful.
“The sample ballots are already out and it had been communicated to the bishops that the White Vote has endorsed only ten candidates,” he said. (CBCPNews)