THE REDEMPTORISTS congregation on Wednesday called on Filipinos to vote for “servant leaders” in May.

The missionaries said that everything depends on the choice Filipinos will make.

“As Redemptorists, it is our duty to guide the faithful to make the right decision based on an informed conscience. Although we avoid partisanship, we cannot remain neutral in the face of evil, deception, and suffering,” they said in a statement.

“This is no longer simply a matter of politics but of moral judgment – a choice between good and evil, between light and darkness, between truth and lies. Ultimately, we will vote according to our conscience,” it added.

As the elections draw near, the religious congregation stressed that the Philippines is at a “critical juncture.”

“We have witnessed the war on drugs, which claimed the lives of many poor Filipinos, the militarization of Lumad communities, the red tagging of human rights defenders, the press under attack while fake news proliferated in the social media, the millions of Filipinos badly affected by COVID-19, and the corruption that continues to plague many branches of our government,” they said.

The Redemptorists urged Filipinos to choose a candidate who possesses the qualities of a servant leader such as good conduct, moral integrity and respect for human dignity.

They said a candidate should also have clear economic, social, and political platforms.

“A good leader must also have competence, a proven track record, adequate knowledge, and skills, and a system of accountability and transparency,” they said.

“He or she must also have love for the people; will work for the empowerment of the poor; must be corruption-free; and law- abiding,” they added.