MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday appealed to the Archdiocese of Manila not to defy the restrictions set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), particularly on religious services, to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19 cases.
In a pastoral instruction, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the Manila archdiocese, said their churches would hold religious services with 10% capacity starting Wednesday, March 24.
READ: Archdiocese of Manila to hold religious services despite IATF ban
However, this is contrary to the IATF rules prohibiting religious gatherings under the implementation of general community quarantine in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal, and Cavite from March 22 to April 4.
READ: NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal under GCQ until April 4 — IATF
“We ask Bishop Pabillo not to encourage iyong disregard of IATF rules. Ito naman po ay para sa kabutihan ng lahat,” Roque said.
(We ask Bishop Pabillo not to encourage your flock to disregard IATF rules. This is for the good of all.)
“So, I hope the Bishop will not encourage noncompliance po with this IATF decision,” he added.
The Palace official pointed out that non-compliance with the IATF rules is not covered by the separation of Church and State. It goes beyond the freedom to believe and the prohibition to endorse a religion.
The government can order churches closed if necessary, he added.
“Huwag sana pong dumating doon, Bishop Pabillo (Don’t let this thing happen). Wala po tayong makakamit na kahit anong (We will not be able to achieve any) objective if you will defy and you will force the state to close the doors of the Church,” he said.
“That will be an enforcement of police powers po to protect the public good,” he added.
The Archdiocese of Manila covers the cities of Manila, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong and San Juan.