Church won’t join destabilization plot vs. Duterte

FILE: Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) office building located at Intramuros, Manila (Photo By User:Patrickroque01 – Taken using my own camera with model DSC-HX5V, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday assured that it will not take part in any destabilization plot against the government.

“Definitely kung meron man plan wala dun ang simbahan. I can say that. The Church is not in the habit of participating in these kinds of plans. Walang ganun ang simbahan,” said Fr. Jerome Secillano, CBCP-Permanent Committee on Public Affairs (PCPA) executive secretary, in a forum in Manila.

Secillano added that he cannot say, though, if such a plan exists.

‘Yun lang ang gagawin kong assurance sa inyo wala d’yan ang simbahan. Walang participation dyan ang simbahan(That is the only assurance I can give you that the Church will not be involved in that. The Church will not participate in such plots),” the priest added.

He also noted that the Church is not an enemy but a partner of the government.

He lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s policies on certain issues including the closure of Boracay and cutting red tape.

“‘Yung ginawa niya sa Boracay malaki impact niya sa environment. Meron siyang political will sa mga bagay na ito. Nakikinig at umaaksyon, malaking bagay ‘yun. Mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) (na) lumapit sa kanya, natutulungan nya. Malaking bagay ‘yun. ‘Yung nabawasan ‘yung bureaucratic process, ‘yung (dati) kasi kailangan dumaan pa kay ganito…meron din ginawang iba pa at na-appreciate namin ‘yun (What he did to Boracay has a big impact on the environment. He has political will. He listens and acts. That is something big. He was able to help OFWs who are in need,” he added. “The bureaucratic process was also eased. In the past, one has to deal with some other officials. Much has been done and we appreciate that),” he said

The Department of National Defense earlier said it is already looking into intelligence reports of destabilization plot against the President.