Respect others’
rights, candidates told
BY JUANCHO GALLARDE

Vicar general Msgr. Gamaliel Tulabing of the Diocese of Dumaguete advised candidates that if they really believe in God, they should respect the rights and the choices of others, and should not use guns, goons and gold in order to win the election, at the signing of a peace covenant among politicians Sunday.

“An ordinary man who does not believe in God is very dangerous, how much more if a politician who wields political and economic power does not also believe in God and does whatever he wants,” Tulabing said.

Dismantling of private
armed groups urged

The Catholic Church in Dumaguete City has challenged the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army in Negros Oriental to take apart partisan armed groups, believed to be providing services to political candidates to influence the vote in the May polls.

During Sunday’s signing of the peace covenant by local candidates, Msgr. Gamaliel Tulabing, vicar general of the Diocese of Dumaguete, called on candidates who have private armies to dismantle them, and also appealed to the people not to vote for candidates who espouse violence.

The Maguindanao massacre happened mainly because there are people these days who have lost respect for the rights of other people and there are people who have lost respect for life, Tulabing said.

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