Bishops urge impeachment observers to pray for truth, justice

MANILA, Philippines—At the start of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment trial, an official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ social arm on Monday enjoined observers of the proceedings to join a group of “prayer warriors” in their prayer vigil and fasting outside the Senate.

In an interview with reporters on Monday, Fr. Edu Gariguez, executive secretary of the CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-Nassa), said they support the move “for the sake of truth and justice.”

A 27-year-old active non-violence movement, Aksyon para sa Kapayapaan at Katarungan (Akkapka) announced Monday that its members will hold a vigil “24-7” and fast from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day until a verdict has been reached by the impeachment court.

“Civil society organizations cannot remain as spectators in this very important historic event. They need to act and express themselves and send their message clearly to the Senators …,” according to the group.

“They need to demand nothing short but a truthful discernment on the eight articles of impeachment and the just rendering of verdict,” the group added.

Akkapka said it has held similar actions in various historic events in the country, including the 1986 and 2001 people power revolutions, the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada and the 2010 presidential elections.

From 1985 to 1986, the group set up a tent for its campaign, dubbed “Toldang Tipanan,” in Makati City which called for clean and honest snap elections under the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos.

The group said Monday it believes “that prayer and fasting among citizens could be among effective methods for serious collective discernment process and action.”

“We will celebrate mass with the group to support the movement,” Gariguez told reporters in an interview in Intramuros, Manila.

He called on the public to join in praying and fasting either at the tent the group has pitched at the Senate or “wherever they are.”