The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting downplayed on Wednesday the Lipa (Batangas) archdiocese’s move to cut off ties with it, saying such development will not affect its preparations for the May 13 elections.
In a radio interview, PPCRV chairperson Henrietta de Villa said it is “business as usual” as far as voter education and vote guarding are concerned.
“Hindi ko tinatrataong balakid yan, kailangan magtrabaho mas masugid (I do not treat what happened as a stumbling block. We just need to work harder),” De Villa said in an interview on dzBB radio.
“Business as usual,” she added.
The CBCP noted this development came two weeks after the CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action (Nassa) cut ties with PPCRV and said it will work with Namfrel.
De Villa said one of the supposed reasons for the Lipa archdiocese’s move was that the fourth copy of the election returns for the PPCRV will be sealed.
She said she explained that volunteer poll watchers will be able to see the contents of the ER.
“At sine-seal para ang courier pagdala sa amin baka ma-tamper… para makasiguradong hindi napalitan yan,” De Villa said.
Business interests?
But De Villa admitted she was hurt over reported innuendos linking some members of the PPCRV to alleged business interests in the counting machines to be used in the May 13 polls.
She said the PPCRV is not promoting the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines but teaching voters because they will eventually have to use the machines on Election Day.
“Nagpapakamatay na kami nang walang bayad, ang anak ko tumutulong sa akin. Walang negosyo yan. Sila may sariling hanapbuhay, nothing to do with PCOS or advertisement,” she said.
De Villa also said the PPCRV will not mind if its members side with candidates, but said they should leave the group if they want to actively campaign for their advocacies. — RSJ, GMA News
