‘When he was still alive, Soriano challenged the INC to admit their God is wrong whenever their candidates lose.’
THE feisty Ely Soriano of Dating Daan was a voice to contend with it in church corruption and politics. He spoke out strongly against religious and church leaders endorsing political candidates. He minced no words when he accused the Catholic church of fanning political and clergy corruption through the centuries.
Not a lot of people talk about how religious leaders have relished and taken advantage of their church’s endorsements, particularly of presidential candidates. The late Soriano considered such endorsements as capital of sorts to obtain favors from the political candidates when they sit in office.
The Constitution decrees that we vote with our conscience, and not as Soriano reminded us, with the conscience of our church leaders. The things of God belong to God and should not be combined with politics and elections.
He cited the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) whose leadership regularly imposed on its members “the voice of God” on their choice of candidates.
When he was still alive, Soriano challenged the INC to admit their God is wrong whenever their candidates lose.
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This may be late but allow me to inform you of my senatorial bets who I strongly believe have the interest of our people, above all, in their hearts.
On top of my list is Sen. Richard Gordon, who chose to stay as chairman of the Philippines National Red Cross for many years, instead of pursuing his own political agenda, and whose exceptional leadership proved very earnest in saving many lives at the height of the pandemic.
The militant Sen. Riza Hontiveros sustained her advocacies even if she had to tirelessly challenge the current administration’s inadequacies on human rights, social justice, and social equality. Along the way, she had to endure a series of political and personal insults.
Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero remains one of more outspoken legislators who had risen to national prominence while in the House of Representatives. His sense of humanity shone through, being the only candidate in this election who assured assistance and support for Ukrainian refugees.
There’s also the no-nonsense former PNP chief, Guillermo Eleazar, who was evidently more compassionate than his predecessors in enforcing the PNP’s anti-drug operations. During his tenure, EJKs dropped by 30 percent.
Loren Legarda is definitely out of my list. Once a multi-awarded broadcast journalist who ran regular exposes in her TV programs on ABS-CBN on corruption, injustice and government and military abuses, she chose to run with Bongbong Marcos as senatorial candidate in his Uniteam party. Her own son couldn’t take it he had to go public with “an open letter of grief.”
Lorenzo Legarda Leviste said his mother’s decision to run under the Uniteam “spits in the faces” of those whose lives were “destroyed by the Marcoses and the Dutertes.
“I was aghast. This is a woman who lived through martial law; she was once a journalist who taught me to value truth and justice.” The son could not hide his disrespect for his own mother.
