PNP backs PPCRV call for right voting
With no compromise in its non-partisan character, the Philippine National Police (PNP) supports the Catholic Church's Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting's (PPCRV) 10 guidelines on how to vote right this May 14 election.
The PPCRV is a Catholic Lay organization which has been operating as a poll watchdog group in the country's elections. It has officially joined forces with the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines social action arm and the National Secretariat for Social Action.
With them, the PNP has completely been neutral on voters' preferences and focused exclusively on the campaign for wise exercise of suffrage and the conduct of honest and orderly elections.
The "10 Commandments" for responsible voting are as follows:
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Thou shalt vote according to the dictate of your conscience.
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Thou shalt respect the decision of others in choosing their candidates.
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Thou shalt seek to know the moral integrity, capabilities and other personal qualities of the candidates you will vote for.
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Thou shalt strive to understand the issues, platform and programs of candidates and parties seeking your vote.
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Thou shalt not sell your vote.
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Thou shalt not vote for candidates using guns, goons and gold.
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Thou shalt not vote for candidates with records of graft and corruption, and Human Rights Violation.
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Thou shalt not vote for candidates just because of "utang na loob", personal appearance, popularity, or pakikisama.
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Thou shalt not vote for candidates living an immoral life.
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Thou shalt put the welfare of the country above all else in choosing the candidates you will vote for.
Chief Supt. Wilfredo V. Dulay, Sr., Regional Director of Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 said that the police force, by nature and as deputies of Comelec, are prohibited from campaigning any political candidate.
"Our main task is to support the Comelec by implementing all laws relative to our goal of ensuring an honest, orderly, peaceful and credible May 14 elections. We have to stand firm with our apolitical nature," he said.
(PIO-PRO 6)