Palace to bishop: Stick to your role in society, don’t discourage people from wearing face masks

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday urged former Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles to stick to his role in society and refrain from discouraging people from wearing face masks as the COVID-19 pandemic is still a problem.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this after Arguelles, in a Sept. 23 homily, said people need not wear face masks if they have faith in God and if they love one another.

But Roque said prelates should instead use their influence to encourage people to wear face masks to protect themselves from COVID-19.

“Kay Bishop, Sir, I hope we stick to our roles in society. Ang mga bishops po kinakailangan sa pananampalataya lang ng mga tao,” Roque said in a televised Palace press briefing.

(To Bishop Arguelles, Sir, I hope we stick to our roles in society. Bishops are needed only for the faith of the people.)

“Pero napatunayan na po ng siyensiya at ng mga doktor na napaka epektibo po ng pagsusuot ng face mask para maiwasan po ang COVID,” he added.

(But science and doctors have proven that wearing a face mask is very effective in preventing COVID.)

“Sana po gamitin na lang natin ‘yung impluwensya natin sa lipunan para tulungan ‘yung bayan na mabawasan ang kaso ng COVID. I-encourage po natin ang pagsusuot ng face masks kaysa po i-discourage,” Roque went on.

(I hope we use their influence in society to help the people reduce the COVID cases. Let us encourage people to wear face masks rather than discourage them.)

As of Thursday, there are 296,755 confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide, including 231,928 recoveries, and 5,127 deaths. [ac]