Animal sacrifice kicks off PH campaign period

MANILA - Indigenous Ayta folk killed a chicken in a ritual to their god Apo Namalyari at the doors of the Commission on Elections in Intramuros, Manila.

In a press release, the Aytas said they performed the ritual for "a clean, honest, and glitch-free elections" to kick-off the campaign bid of the progressive KATRIBU Indigenous Peoples Partylist.

Kakay Tolentino, a Dumagat and KATRIBU party-list Secretary General, said such rituals are done to call on the good spirits and to drive away evil spirits.

"This ritual is symbolic of our
battle against the powers that dominate the coming elections," Tolentino said.

"Philippine elections are always hounded by the evils of violence, cheating, and isenfranchisement. These should be cast away by the people's vigilance and determination to uphold the people's right to suffrage."