This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, Special Issue, August 31, 2005
‘The Sooner,
The Better’
“It’s time for the people to
defend their own liberties. We (bishops) will plan about (persuading) the people
to come out, the people should come out. The sooner, the better."
By BULATLAT A Catholic bishop who early
July was one of the first group of church leaders who called for President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation, has urged the people to take to the
streets in order to remove the president. Novaliches Bishop Antonio
Bishop, interviewed by Bulatlat at the gallery Aug. 30 as the House Committee on
Justice plunged into acrimonious debates over the President’s impeachment, said:
“I think it’s time for the people to defend their own liberties. We (bishops)
will plan about (persuading) the people to come out, the people should come out.
The sooner the better." Tobias had in the morning
led a mass for truth and justice at the St. Peter’s Parish Church on
Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City near the Batasan complex, the headquarters of
the House of Representatives. A newspaper quoted the
bishop as calling on the people to unite to oust the President. Tobias later led the march
of about 5,000 protesters to the Batasan gate. Observing the committee
proceedings that led to the shooting down of the amended impeachment complaint,
Tobias called it "a mockery of justice.” “It is a pity that
Congressman (Simeon) Datumanong (the committee chair) can do that. He is stupid
really and doesn't know what he's doing, really. I think this is a grand plan
that the president want these things quashed before she goes to the U.S. and
address the United Nations. She is going to get all kinds of protests and
rallies there. So what kind of country are we showing ourselves? This is a
pity." Tobias also called the
committee proceedings “a whole travesty of justice, a sham.” He urged fellow priests and
nuns to be with the people. “As part of their own vigilance, they should, as
shepherds, bring their people into prayers and analysis of the situation. So
that the people can make up their own minds." The bishop is also with the
Inter-Faith Movement for Truth, Justice and Genuine Change (IFM). Initiated by
the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) and the Diocese of Novaliches, IFM counts the
support and membership of various religious institutions/faith-based groups
including the United Muslims for Morality and Truth (UMMAT) and the National
Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the largest group of Protestant
churches in the country. Bulatlat © 2004 Bulatlat
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Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Bishop Calls on Church Leaders
to Rally People for Arroyo’s Ouster