By Azer Parrocha/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Malacañang said it will leave to candidates and voters to decide regarding the endorsements made by the Church and other religious institutions supporting some opposition candidates last month.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said although candidates normally welcome endorsements coming from influential groups or persons, it was really up to them to react on said recommendations.
“We deem it best to leave the endorsement of the Church to the candidates themselves as well leave it the electorate as to how they will look or treat the same,” Panelo said in a statement on Wednesday.
On March 27, Catholic and Christian lay leaders endorsed all senatorial candidates belonging to the Otso Diretso opposition slate.
These religious leaders are members of the People’s Choice Movement (PCM) composed of more than 100 lay leaders.
Panelo pointed out that generally, an endorsement of a candidate from an endorser means that the latter is impressed with the credentials of the former.
He also noted that other endorsements are based on kinship, friendship, alliance, indebtedness (utang na loob), investment for future favors, fondness, admiration or any combination of the foregoing.
The presidential spokesperson, meanwhile, told the public that “everybody can endorse anybody running for public office.”
“The Philippines is a free and democratic country, where everybody can endorse anybody running for public office,” Panelo said.
He, however, reminded public officers and government employees holding non-political offices that they are prohibited from engagement in a partisan political activity and endorsing candidates under the law.
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