A Catholic Church official Sunday said the re-election of pro-Reproductive Health (RH) bill lawmakers into office only shows the Filipino voters lack of maturity.

“Our electorate is not mature yet in a sense that their choices are not issue-oriented,” Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Media Director, said in an interview.

The CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) earlier discouraged the faithful from voting for candidates who are anti-life and family such as those lawmakers supportive of the RH bill.

Some pro-RH lawmakers, however, still managed to get re-elected. But Quitorio said there may be other factors why people still chose to vote for the candidates.

“There must be other convening factors beside the issue. I think many will agree with me and even the surveys will agree that even the selection of senators is not so much issue-oriented. So if you use that observation that can also be used in the presidential candidates,” he said.

The CBCP official was referring to presidential frontrunner Sen. Benigno Noynoy Aquino III who is also supportive of the controversial bill.

Still, Quitorio said, they respect the decision of the electorate. “Whoever the people vote for that is their choice, their option. As long as the process is honest, clean and orderly,” he said.

“Whoever wins it should be respected because this is the sovereign will of the people,” added Quitorio.

On their part, he said, they’ll continue to be vigilant against any move that will destroy life and the Filipino family. “We will remain vigilant. We will continue to monitor these people,” Quitorio said.