Letter of solidarity to partners after the elections in the Philippines
KAIROS and the United Church of Canada have written an ecumenical letter to partners in the Philippines expressing solidarity, witness and support in the aftermath of the presidential and vice-presidential elections on May 9.
Our partners, including the National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP), have reported malfunctioning vote counting machines and irregularities in the conduct of the election, and call on people to remain critical and vigilant.
In our ecumenical letter to the NCCP and other partners we write:
We are inspired by your steadfast commitment to address corruption, violence and the abuse of human rights in the Philippines. We stand with you, ready to share your advocacy and reporting in Canada and internationally.
May 13, 2022
To Cherished Partners, Friends and Colleagues in the Philippines:
We write in solidarity with you, after the outcome of the 2022 Philippine presidential and vice-presidential elections on Monday May 9. We hear your deep concerns regarding the election process including long lines for voting and malfunctioning vote counting machines. The right to vote during elections is a fundamental human right, and we look to amplify your reports about irregularities in the conduct of the election. We are also concerned about reports of killings in the Lanao region.
The journey towards peace and justice in the Philippines continues to be a long and difficult one. Justice always has a countercultural voice—an inherent tension with institutionalized power. This vigilance to fight against oppression is the mission Jesus mentioned in Luke’s account of his ministry, when he quoted Isaiah saying, “the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor… to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to the let the oppressed go free” (Lk 4: 18). May we continue to be of service to God and God’s people—as we together look for new ways to serve with changing dynamics.
We are inspired by your steadfast commitment to address corruption, violence and the abuse of human rights in the Philippines. We stand with you, ready to share your advocacy and reporting in Canada and internationally. Be assured you are in our hearts and prayers.
Rev. Dr. Japhet Ndhlovu, Executive Minister, Church in Mission Unit
Aisha Francis, Executive Director, KAIROS Canada
