THE De La Salle Brothers of the Philippines called on Filipinos to vote wisely in 2022, saying that the elections next year will perhaps be the “most crucial ones in recent history.”

It called on voters to examine the platforms of candidates on human rights, the welfare of Filipinos, social developments, protection of truth, and respect for freedom of information, among others.

“We call on every Filipino voter to see and evaluate how each of our local and national candidates measure up to these non-negotiable ethical criteria. Let us not also fall victim to the factories of disinformation and misinformation campaigns,” the group said.

It stressed that voting is not just an “ethical responsibility” but a “prophetic task” requiring Filipinos to challenge old ways of thinking.

“As we reel from the social and economic devastation wrought by the pandemic and the continuing blight of corrupt and ineffective governance that has grown even more pronounced in the past six years, the issue at stake is not just one of national recovery but of our very survival as a God-loving, sovereign, and democratic nation,” it said in a statement.

“The election of 2022 is not just about the choice of a new leader – it is about choosing the kind of future we want for ourselves, our children, and our children’s children,” it added.

Candidates, the group said, must have the vision, integrity, and clean track record that can unite Filipinos.

“For this reason, as Catholic educators in the Lasallian tradition, we are compelled to speak out to offer our Lasallian family, educators, and all people of good will, moral guidance in the form of ethical principles for discerning the kind of leadership our country needs and deserves. The principles we propose are not new,” it emphasized.