CBCP takes ‘defensive’ stance in wake of Duterte’s attacks
By Dane Angelo M. Enerio
PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte’s recent remarks against the Catholic church has put the religious institution on a “defensive mode,” according to Father Jerome R. Secillano of the Catholic Bishops’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Mr. Duterte on Wednesday continued his tirades against the church after his administration drew flak for its tone towards the murders of three priests over a seven-month period, even threatening to release information about alleged illicit affairs involving men of the cloth.
Mr. Duterte claimed on May 21 that one of the murdered priests, Mark Anthony Ventura who was shot in Cagayan on April 29, may have been killed for his alleged illicit affairs with several women.
“We have to defend ourselves, these are below the belt accusations and many of them are not true,” Mr. Secillano said in an interview with One News’s The Chiefs.
“[W]e have to better ourselves to disprove each and every accusation that the President delivered,” he added.
The President has also called priests “hypocrites” and “corrupt” for criticizing him while asking favors from the government and collecting fees from their flock.
Mr. Secillano acknowledged that some of Mr. Duterte’s criticisms did hit home with the public, such as the church’s collection of fees for religious services from baptism to death.
He then cited that his diocese has removed fees for celebrating events like baptisms.
“May mga tao na tuwang-tuwa sa ginawa ng pangulo (Some people are very supportive of the President’s sentiments),” the CBCP official said, “Malaking bagay yun (It’s a big deal), and they can actually relate with what the President said about us.”
“Kaya sabi ko nga (That’s why I said), we need to challenge ourselves as a church, we need to better ourselves,” Mr. Secillano said.
Despite Mr. Duterte’s attacks, Mr. Secillano said the Catholic leadership is not about to go “lambasting the President also.”
“Do not expect us to be in the media hurling accusations also against the President. We’re not going to do that.”
The best way to respond, he said, is for the church to show good deeds.
DIALOGUE
On Thursday, Malacañang said it is open to a dialogue with the CBCP to amend the bickering between the President and the Catholic Church.
“If they want a dialogue, then the President and the Palace are always open,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in Filipino during a press briefing at the Palace.
He also stressed that the government has an “obligation” to investigate the murders of the priests and bring the culprits to justice.
Carlos H. Conde of the the Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division, for his part, said the most recent murders, including that of father Richmond Nilo on June 10, were “grim reminders of the vulnerability of the poor and those who speak out for their rights against the deadly extrajudicial violence that Philippine authorities are apparently unwilling or unable to either stop or provide… accountability for.” — with reports from Arjay L. Balinbin and Camille A. Aguinaldo
House minority threatens to bloc COMELEC budget if it taps Smartmatic for 2019 polls
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Garin preparing charges vs PhilHealth officials
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Barangay, youth officials with pending cases barred from taking office
THE COMMISSION on Elections (COMELEC) Thursday, June 14, made clear that winning candidates with pending cases for disqualification are not allowed to take office just yet. In a statement, COMELEC said, “winning candidates in the recently concluded May 14, 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections but with pending Petitions for Disqualification or Petitions for Cancellation of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) filed against them will not be allowed to hold office.” Among the grounds for disqualification are being over the age limit for SK officials and violating the limit on three consecutive terms. — Gillian M. Cortez
