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Religious groups march vs poll failure, call for public vigilance


Dubbed as the "Jericho March," more than 100 members of religious groups on Thursday trooped to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Manila to call on the public to be vigilant for possible fraud or failure of elections in May. "Aming kahilingan na ang mamamayan ay kumilos para tayo ay magkaroon ng isang kapani-kapaniwala [at] malinis na halalan (It is our wish that citizens do their part so that we may have an honest, credible, and clean elections)," said Father Joe Dizon of poll watchdog Kontra Daya, one of the groups that participated in the rally.

Several religious groups on Thursday called on the public to be vigilant of election fraud and other possible problems on election day. - Kim Tan
Dizon likewise said the public should be prepared for any eventuality on election day. “There are indications that the election will be manipulated by the powers that be to promote their own interests; that there will be heightened election violence and massive fraud," the participating organizations said in a manifesto distributed during the rally. Other participating organizations include the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), the United Methodist Church (UMC), the Clergy Discernment Group, the Religious Discernment Group, and the Lay Discernment Group. Task Force on Urban Conscientization (TFUC), Pagbabago! People's Movement for Change, the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP), Holy Name Society of the Philippines, Council of the Laity of the Philippines, Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (Kasama-TK), the Promotion of People's Response (PCPR), Kairos Philippines, and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) also joined the rally. Other groups who were in the event were Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the League of Filipino Students (LFS), the Student Ministry and Social Concerns Office of the College of the Holy Spirit, Kontra Daya, Magnificat Movement, the June 30 Movement, GABRIELA, We Watch, the Concerned Citizens Movement, the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF), Solidarity Philippines, the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), and the Confederation for the Unity, and Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage). Earlier, activist groups and critics of the Comelec had been warning of possible failure of elections in May. The poll body, however, has repeatedly dismissed the assertion. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMANews.TV
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