Bishop urges unity against dictatorship

A leading Catholic prelate on Thursday said Filipinos should make a united stand now against dictatorship to prevent the return of martial rule.

“In Edsa, we showed how Filipinos can be united in standing up for our country. This time, we should show our affirmation for our country and be vigilant more than ever,” Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said.

“Let us not wait for another dictatorship to happen. If we will be vigilant now, we can avoid a repeat of what happened during the martial law years,” he said.

Edsa anniversary

Pabillo, chair of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Commission on the Laity, made the remarks as he invited Filipinos to join the “Walk for Life” prayer rallies organized by the Catholic laity.

The prayer rally will be held on Saturday, the eve of the 32nd anniversary of the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution.

Pabillo earlier said this year’s “Walk for Life” would draw attention to and condemn extrajudicial killings and other attacks while also raising concerns over proposed changes to the 1987 Constitution.

He said the prayer rally would show “vigilance for justice and for the dignity of life.”

Saturday’s gathering will start at 4 a.m. at Quirino Grandstand in Manila, with simultaneous prayer rallies in other parts of the country.

These are: from the Fuente Osmeña Circle to Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu City; Gaston Park in Cagayan de Oro City; Tarlac City Plazuela in Tarlac City; and from San Pablo City Cathedral to Dagatan Boulevard, Sampaloc Lake in San Pablo City in Laguna.

Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was expected to preside over a Mass at the prayer rally in Manila.

Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas president Julieta Wasan said they hoped to attract around 20,000 to join the prayer rally.