This deeply religious province welcomed the stand of two high-ranking leaders of the Archdiocese of Cebu who called on the electorate not to vote candidates who favor violence as the means to eradicate criminality.
Both Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, in separate interviews with a Cebu daily, categorically said that violence particularly killings to combat criminality is never acceptable.
The statement of the two Cebu based church leaders jived with a radio survey conducted by the top rated “Radyo Merkado†of dyRD yesterday wherein 58 percent of the respondents said they do not want such “solution to the crimes committed in society.â€
The respondents of the radio survey categorically said that presidentiable, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte do not qualify to become the nation’s leader based on his principle of killing the criminals.  The recent radio survey came as Duterte topped the Bohol Poll survey provincewide.
Duterte scored a high of 41 percent or four of every 10 Boholanos. LP’s Mar Roxas followed second with 27 percent, Senator Grace Poe 16 percent , VP Jejomar Binay, 14 percent and Sen Miriam Santiago, 12 percent.
Vidal said he was happy that Fr. Crispin Mostajo of the Redemptorist Church gave a reminder for people not to support candidates who espoused violence as the main means to deal with crimes.
“To kill is a sin,†said the 85-year-old Vidal in an interview with Cebu Daily News.
At the same time, Vidal also appealed to candidates to be honest about their plans.
For his part, Archbishop Palma said voters should get to know candidates well before voting and choose the “best†leaders for the country.
While bishops and priests were prohibited from campaigning for a candidate, Palma said they could guide the faithful by presenting and teaching them about the qualities of a good leader.
He said that the clergy have the role to educate and make people aware about the importance of the elections,†Palma added.
In a homily on April 3, Mostajo voiced concern over a presidential candidate who promised to end criminality by killing criminals.
Mostajo, parish priest of the Redemptorist Church in Cebu City, said anyone who supported candidates who promoted violence should reexamine their faith.