MARAWI CITY – Amid the heating up political atmosphere for the 2010 elections, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Al. Adiong Jr. has called anew on all stakeholders to observe “morality in politics” in order to produce quality elected leaders that could bring the country to greater heights amid multitude of nagging problems.

Adiong reiterated the call as he sent off Sunday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila the 350-member first batch of over 800 pilgrims from his province for this year’s hajj pilgrimage to the Holy Lands of Saudi Arabia.

“Our socio-economic and political conditions are decayed. Your journey for self-renewal via the hajj pilgrimage is a vital step at individual level towards healing the decays,” Adiong told his constituent-pilgrims at the airport’s pre-departure lounge.

Adiong, pursuing the traditional humanitarian practice of his late father, undefeated Lanao del Sur Congressman and Governor Mamintal Sr., handed cash assistance, travel bags and clothes to the Maranao pilgrims, for whom he also assigned a medical team to take care of them in Saudi Arabia.

Noting the recurrence of untoward political maneuverings for the 2010 polls, the 44-year-old governor stressed the need for “politicians and electors alike to abide by the teachings of our religions that commonly prescribe morality in all undertakings, including politics.”

Social fragmentation is “inevitable” in politics, but its “very divisive effects” can be overcome in an “atmosphere of moral political exercises” where leaders are chosen based on “love of God, care for country and the masses, qualities of candidates and fear for after-life accountability,” Adiong said.

Adiong said the Philippines, which belonged to the top ladder of Southeast Asia’s development hierarchy three decades ago, is now lagging behind other neighboring nations because of many socio-political and economic problems spawned mainly by “diminished morality” in past electoral exercises.

He corroborated popular notions that dirty elections attended by intimidation, vote-buying and other electoral frauds had spoiled the electorate and led to the prevalence of graft and corruption in public service.