MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In its final attempt to make known its imprimatur on Monday’s presidential elections, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has announced that it will be conducting a mock presidential election this Sunday.

The CBCP poll dwarfs all other surveys by SWS, Pulse Asia and other polling agencies.  It will involve close to 80% of the total Philippine population — the Catholics, to be specific.

When Filipinos attend church services nationwide on May 8 and receive the Eucharist, they will be asked to choose the communion host that bears the name of the presidential candidate they will be voting for on Monday.

The CBCP poll is patterned after the 7-Eleven mock poll in which customers buying sodas choose the paper cup that has the image of their chosen candidate.

CBCP head Archbishop Socrates Villegas told The Adobo Chronicles that it is the Catholic Church’s way to ensure clean and honest elections. “If results of the mock poll are not consistent with Monday’s official election results, then we know there has been cheating,” he said.

The mock election count will be conducted immediately following the very last mass on Sunday.

Villegas emphasized that the CBCP is not endorsing any particular candidate.

So, if you’re Catholic, make sure your (mock) vote is counted this Sunday.

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – There may be four major political parties — not to mention coalitions and independents — that have a stake in the upcoming May 9, 2016 Philippine presidential elections. But in reality, a new two-party system has emerged in just the last few months.

For generations, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), boasting of  close to four million members, has always voted in Philippine elections as a unified block.  Its church leaders dictate who its members should vote vote. That’s one party.

The latest party to emerge is the Catholic Church of the Philippines. Its leaders, members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have never been “hands-off” from politics.  Separation of church and state is a myth.

The Catholic bishops have always had a hand  — and the pulpit — in influencing political decisions and developments — from the first EDSA People’s Power Revolution to legislation and debate on divorce, abortion, women’s rights, gay marriage, health policy, etc.

Catholics comprise about 80% of the total Philippine population. That would translate into at least 40 million votes, based on the 54 million registered in this election.

Supporters of administration candidates Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo have taken to social media to try to convince all Catholic voters to rally behind the presidential and vice presidential candidates. It will be the ‘other’ block vote.

Now, wouldn’t it make the voting process in the Philippines much simpler and less expensive if, with the two-party system (INC and CBCP), we just let the heads of the two churches vote on behalf of their constitutents?

Let’s pray.