JC de los Reyes shies away from bishops' support

Despite the support he is getting from Catholic bishops, Ang Kapatiran party standard-bearer JC de los Reyes said he would rather that the Church would not endorse him and his party for the May 10 elections. Interviewed in GMA News’ election show “Kandidato," the former Olongapo City councilor said he would prefer it if the church remains non-partisan. "Alam niyo ho ayokong i-endorso kami nang simbahan at gusto ko pong galangin na sila'y maging non-partisan (I don’t want me and my party-mates to be endorsed by the church, what I want is for the church to remain non-partisan," he said. Instead of endorsing candidates, De los Reyes said the Church and its leaders should instead teach the public about “principled partisan politics." "Turuan niyo kung anong ibig sabihin ng principled partisan politics. Prinsipyong pamumulitika sana ang ituro niyo sa kanila at kung mag-eendorso kayo ipaliwanag niyo kung bakit at kung naayon po yun sa principled partisan politics," he said. (Teach the public about principled partisan politics. If you will endorse someone, it should be in accordance with principled partisan politics.) De los Reyes was the second presidential candidate to be grilled in “Kandidato," a show that adopts a job interview format for candidates for the country’s highest post. Seven local bishops, including Antonio Tobias of Novaliches and retired bishop Teodoro Bacani, have expressed support for the Ang Kapatiran Party. The others include Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, Vicente Navarra of Bacolod, Antonio Pepito Palang of San Jose, Mindoro, Joseph Nacua of Ilagan, Isabela, and Joel Zamudio Baylon of Legazpi, Albay. Ang Kapatiran has been advocating platforms based on the Church’s social doctrine, which includes the hardline stance of De los Reyes against the controversial Reproductive Health bill. Arguelles, who once said that the Church should not engage in partisan politics, was even the first to openly endorse the party. "We will stand by our position. We really have to do something now and be sincere [about] what is happening in our country," Arguelles said. Tobias, for his part, referred to the party as the "conscience vote for 2010." Navarra said his endorsement of Ang Kapatiran was "a matter of conscience" and that he was "standing for what is right and necessary." - KBK, GMANews.TV