Workers wore pink T-shirts as they waited at the Bishop’s House in Iligan City for the arrival of their presidential bet, Vice President Leni Robredo, on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Robred paid a courtesy call to Bishop Jose Ramirez Rapadas III of the Diocese of Iligan before holding a political rally at the Iligan City Plaza. (Photo by RICHEL V. UMEL / Inquirer Mindanao)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Philippines — Archbishop Jose Cabantan of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro openly has openly expressed support for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Cabantan made the statement despite the recent advice of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to clergy to avoid displaying partisanship in the campaign for the May elections.
“We are one with you. We are supporting you,” Cabantan said in a dialogue between Robredo and religious and inter-faith leaders of the city on Tuesday afternoon.
Cabantan hosted the meeting with Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma.
Also present at the meeting were personalities from the Iglesia Filipina Independiente — the Philippine Independent Church.
Cabantan started his extemporaneous message with a brief narration of the military atrocities he experienced during the strongman rule of Ferdinand Marcos while growing up in Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental.
He also narrated how he was touched by the life of activist Redemptorist priest Rudy Romano who was abducted by armed men in Cebu City in 1985 and had since been missing.
“We hope that truth would truly prevail in our land,” an emotional Cabantan said.
“This is partisanship in terms of truth over lies, for the moral good of the country. Priests and nuns are coming out in the open for truth,” he added.
On the same day, Robredo also campaigned in Iligan City in Gingoog.
In both cities, she was accompanied by outgoing Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno.
Although her sortie in Cagayan de Oro was delayed by two hours, thousands of people still waited to welcome her in the streets.