Antipolo bishop urges Pinoys to scrutinize leaders amid flooding, ahead of elections

As heavy rains from the southwest monsoon, locally known as Habagat, continue to cause widespread flooding across the Philippines, Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos on Tuesday urged Filipinos to be discerning in choosing their leaders ahead of the upcoming elections. Bishop Santos called on voters to avoid reelecting candidates who have failed to deliver on their promises in past elections and to scrutinize their track records. In a social media post, Santos stated, "If those we voted for in the past failed to bring about change, keep their promises, or caused further harm to the country, we should not make the same mistake again." He further emphasized, "Scrutinize their track record. Know not only their promises but also their work. If they only make promises without any results, let us not choose them, but rather reject them." The prelate also warned voters against being swayed by temporary gains or bribes when selecting government officials. "This coming elections, be discerning. Do not be swayed by temporary benefits or bribes. The price of accepting a bribe worth a few thousand pesos is years of suffering, loss of livelihood, and hopelessness," he said, urging for prudent decision-making. The Philippines is slated to hold its National and Local Elections in May 2028, as mandated by the Constitution. Additionally, the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are scheduled for September 14, 2026. The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are set for November 2, though several proposals have been filed seeking to reset these polls and fix the terms of the concerned elective officials to five years. Bishop Santos described the widespread flooding not merely as a failure, but as a "sin" against God and all Filipinos. "Brothers and sisters, corruption is not the fault of the people. Ghost projects are not the fault of the people. All of these are the result of the wrongdoing, greed, and negligence of those in power," he declared. Several areas in Luzon, particularly Metro Manila, Pampanga, Rizal, and Bulacan, have experienced extensive flooding following continuous torrential rains brought by the Habagat. In Rodriguez, Rizal, many residents have become accustomed to flooding, surviving, cleaning up the aftermath, and preparing for the next inundation. According to Rodriguez Mayor Ronnie Evangelista, the town's topography acts as a "funnel" for major river systems, exacerbating flooding with runoff water from nearby mountains. In Pampanga province, approximately 17,300 residents have been moved to 270 evacuation centers due to severe and prolonged flooding. Source: GMA News Philippines