KORONADAL, South Cotabato, March 4, 2010—Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez emphasized the importance of prayer especially in attaining honest, orderly, credible and clean 2010 national and local elections.

Interviewed at the Bishop’s Residence atop a hill on the outskirts of the city, the prelate said the people should not cease from praying especially during this time when election is getting nearer.

“Everyone should pray because without God, we cannot do anything and if we want to be successful in our endeavors we must pray together,” he said.

He also added that the citizens should be vigilant especially for cheaters and terrorists out to disturb the electoral process.

The 71-year old archbishop said it is important for the citizens to be personally involved in the mission to transform political structures.

He also called on candidates to “look for God—meaning they should examine their conscience.”

Gutierrez said the candidates should be able to reflect whether their programs and platforms are for the common good and whether they are realistic and doable.

“There’s one candidate promising to lift everyone from poverty, that will not happen because the Bible says ‘The poor we will always have with us,”” he added.

He also noted a candidate vowing not to steal. “If you are not a thief, there’s no reason for you to say you’re not a thief,” he added.

Bishop Gutierrez said he looks forward to peaceful elections in South Cotabato.

Meanwhile, asked of his prognosis of the government’s peace efforts, Bishop Gutierrez, an active member of the Bishops-Ulama Conference said he was informed by senior military commanders in the area that the peace talks have broken down.

He said the Konsult Mindanao efforts led by Jesuit priest Fr. Albert Alejo pushed for a civil society representative for the peace panel but was rejected.

It was also learned that two members of the panel opted to resign from their appointments.

Bishop Gutierrez also said that the military has provided a security cordon for Koronadal thereby preventing goons and terrorists from disturbing the serene atmosphere and the coming May 10, 2010 polls. (Melo M. Acuna)