At least 1,043 members of the Catholic clergy from throughout the country have voiced their support for presidential candidate Leni Robredo and her running partner, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, in an unexpected action.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Pangilinan campaign, the organization calling themselves “Clergy for the Moral Choice Endorsement of VP Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan” stated that the upcoming 2022 elections are too important to be silent.

The clergymen, who included 976 diocesan and religious priests, 56 deacons, and 11 bishops, also said that it was their duty to teach in order to choose the best candidates.

“Aming nakikita na ang isang ekstra-ordinaryong sitwasyon tulad ngayon ay humihingi sa bawat Pilipino, gayundin sa amin na pawang mamamayan tulad ninyo at lingkod pa nga ninyo sa Simbahan, ng isang ekstra-ordinaryong pagkilos,” (“We see that an extra-ordinary situation like today requires every Filipino, as well as all of us citizens like you and even your servants in the Church, to take an extra-ordinary action,”)

“Kaya nga bilang mga Pilipinong pari at relihiyoso na naglilingkod sa inyo lalo na sa kritikal na sadali’t panahon natin ngayon, kami ay naririto, nagpapahayag ng aming mga saloobin at hangarin, nagbabahagi ng aming dalangin at inaasam,” (That is why as Filipino priests and religious who serve you especially in our critical moment and time, we are here, expressing our thoughts and desires, sharing our prayers and hopes,”) the statement said. 

The churchmen also stated that their choice to support Robredo and Pangilinan was based on “circles of discernment.”

The organization also mentioned Robredo’s track record in public service, such as being an economist and a lawyer for the masses, as reasons for believing she should become the country’s next president.

Without naming names, the clergymen also took notice of applicants who not only break Catholic Church moral rules but also civil laws, such as paying the correct taxes.