Legaspi City - Bishop Lucilo Quiambao, auxillary bishop of Legaspi City, denied reports they indorsed the candidacy of some candidates in the province of Albay following the release of a pastoral letter which focused on environmental issues.

        Quiambao was reacting to claims by supporters of some candidates who attended an environmental rally last Monday at the old Legaspi City public market that they were indorsed by the church.

        The pastoral letter, which was read during the Sunday mass in various catholic churches in the province, was also read during the rally which gave the wrong impression that the candidates present at the rally were favored by the church.

        Fr. Lino Bugaoisan, parish priest of Rapu-rapu, Albay and one of the rally organizers, said in a mobile phone interview that only former Rep Joey Salceda (3rd District-Albay), a guberntorial candidate, and his running-mate Brando Sael, were present at the rally.

        Bugaoisan said Salceda and Sael were not indorsed by the church but only by the rally organizers of “Save Rapu-rapu” and “Sagip-Isla”, two environmental groups opposed to mining operation in the island municipality.

        He said Salceda, who was former chief of staff of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, had promised to them that he would use his connections to kick out the mining operation in Rapu-rapu once he gets elected.

        Quiambao admitted that the presence of Salceda and Sael was the main reason why he did not attend the rally of which he had a part during the initial preparation.

        “I told the organizers that if they will insist on inviting politicians to the rally I will not attend,” he told Bicol Mail.

        The Legaspi prelate said the pastoral letter serves as guide to help the faithful in choosing who to vote for and was not meant to indorse any candidate.

        There was absolutely no truth to the claim that the church indorsed these candidates, Quiambao said, referring to Salceda and Sael.

        The pastoral letter urged the faithful to vote for candidates with genuine advocacy for environmental protection, transparency and accountability in public office, promotion of sustainable development and poverty alleviation and human rights and must be pro-life.