Priest in violence-hit Negros Occidental town urges voters to ‘be strong’

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – A parish priest in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, urged the faithful to stand firm when they go out and vote in the midterm elections on Monday, May 13.

In his homily at the Parish of San Isidro Labrador on Sunday, May 12, Father Jose Rodel Sampollo called on some 2,000 parishioners to exercise their right to vote, as he emphasized how important this election is.

The priest urged them to vote for candidates who can be “good shepherds,” with the capability and sincerity to serve the people.

He also told the faithful about the parable of “The Lion and the Mouse.” As this story goes, a mouse was caught by a lion but the lion spared it from being eaten after it begged for its life. Later on, the lion became trapped in a hunter’s net, and it was the mouse which chewed through the net to set the lion free.

Sampollo likened the voters to the mouse who may be afraid to cast their votes – or think they are too small – due to the recent killings in Moises Padilla town.

“But if we unite together, we can set the lion free within us so we will be strong to go for our decision, our right to vote,” he said. (READ: Guns, goons, killings in small Negros Occidental town)

Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ella Garcia Yulo, who is running against her uncle, reelectionist Mayor Magdaleno Peña, echoed the sentiment of the priest.

Yulo said people go to church to find hope and peace, and if parishioners are encouraged to “set the lion free” within them, it means that they “have to fight for our right to vote.”

Asked if the Feast of San Isidro Labrador on Wednesday, May 15, would also mean her victory party, the vice mayor replied, “Yes, amen!”

Yulo said she is expecting to get 13,000 to 15,000 votes from the more than 26,000 registered voters in the town.

Moises Padilla is under the control of the Commission on Elections due to the recent election-related violence – the killing of reelectionist Councilor Jolomar Hilario by the New People’s Army on March 31 and the ambush on Yulo’s campaign convoy on April 25, which killed her brother Mark Garcia, former Moises Padilla Liga ng mga Barangay president, and nephew, Councilor Michael Garcia.

The vice mayor accused Peña of masterminding the attack, an allegation that the mayor has denied.

Yulo said her family paid dearly for her mistake of endorsing Peña in the 2016 elections. (READ: Duterte warns Negros Occidental mayor: ‘Allow everybody to vote freely’) – Rappler.com