The Catholic hierarchy has vowed to support whoever wins in the May 9 presidential elections but on certain conditions.
Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the victory must come from an honest electoral process and whoever wins will take the job seriously.
"Whoever strives to heal the wounds of the divisiveness of politics, whoever respects the rights of all and is earnest in his or her fear of God and is zealous for his precepts has the support of the CBCP," Archbishop Villegas said.
The statement was contained in a "pastoral appeal" issued May 1, barely eight days before election day — "the crossroads of our journey as citizens of this land and citizens of heaven."
Archbishop Villegas reiterated that the bishops are not endorsing any candidate, but said the next administration must lead a government of unity that rests neither on expediency nor compromise "but on truth and justice."
With a tight presidential race, based on recent surveys, he warned Catholic voters against candidates who take not only "politically precarious" positions but also "morally reprehensible" ones.