Palace to religious groups: Use online, follow 10-person limit on gatherings for now

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
INQUIRER file photo / JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday appealed to religious groups to hold their activities online for now or just follow the 10-person limit for gatherings as the situation will only be temporary.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the call when sought for reaction on Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo’s remark that the 10-percent limit for religious gatherings was “illogical.”

“Napatunayan na po na talagang maraming mga kaso ng COVID ang nagkahawaan dahil po dito sa mga religious worship,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(It has been already proven that there are many transmissions of COVID-19 in religious worship.)

“So sa akin po, puwede tayo mag-online [masses] naman sa ngayon. Obserbahan na muna natin yung 10 persons dahil ito naman po ay temporary lamang,” he went on.

(So for me, we can hold masses online for now. Let’s observe the 10 person-limit as this will only be temporary.)

In areas under general community quarantine like Metro Manila, mass gatherings are only limited to 10 persons.

But Pabillo pointed out that most churches are larger than restaurants and other business establishments that are allowed to operate at a higher capacity.

“Naalala ko naman nung nanawagan ang mga frontliners na bumalik sa ECQ [enhanced community quarantine], unang una naman po ang simbahang katoliko ang nagbawal sa gatherings,” Roque said.

(I remembered when the frontliners appealed for ECQ, the Catholic Church was first to ban gatherings.)

“So in the same spirit, para maiwasan ang pagkalat ng COVID, sana po pasensya lang po muna. hindi naman po ito forever,” he added.

(In the same spirit, to prevent transmission of COVID, let’s be patient for now, this won’t last forever.)