Church execs urge sobriety, lament use of Edsa ‘pawns’

MANILA, Philippines — A Catholic Church leader appealed for sobriety and prayers over what he called a “brewing political storm,” noting how it had distracted and “drained” the energy of government leaders who should be focused on uplifting the poor.

“Of late, events in our country have been disconcerting. Many of our people are still reeling from the effects of the onslaught of recent typhoons,’’ Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The brewing political storm that our political leaders are facing has drained their energy to serve those in most need and the neglected,” Advincula added.

READ: PNP: Duterte supporters allegedly promised payment for Edsa rally

The cardinal’s statement, which did not name any political leader, came a few days after Vice President Sara Duterte again went on a rant and said she had arranged to have President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated if an alleged plot to kill her succeeds.

Advincula called on Filipino Catholics to pray that their leaders “receive the grace to exercise statesmanship in most trying times so that sobriety may prevail in our land and that political issues and personal interests may not divide the nation.”

He also asked “leaders of goodwill” from the different sectors “to do what they can to prevent the escalation of political and personal conflicts.”

Meanwhile, Fr. Jerome Secillano, rector of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, popularly known as Edsa Shrine, denied social media reports that the pro-Duterte crowd that flocked to the church on Tuesday were “shooed away.”

Edsa Shrine ‘pawns’

“They even expressed thanks before they left after the 6 p.m. Mass. They said it was a good thing that they were allowed to stay inside the Edsa Shrine,” Secillano said in a Facebook post.

But he called out the unnamed organizers of a “rally” that was supposed to be held outside the shrine and attended by the Mass goers.

“I am appealing to the organizers of this ‘rally.’ Please don’t take advantage of these people. Don’t make them your hapless pawns. You’ve been exploiting them for too long,” Secillano said.

“These people need genuine care. They are waiting and hoping. But you made them believe that help and change are coming. They are disillusioned with your empty promises, rhetorics and your feigned concern for them. Please stop your evil ways. These people deserve better!” he added.

Roque’s call

Social media posts earlier made the rounds inviting Duterte supporters to gather on Wednesday afternoon on “Edsa,” which pertains to the highway, not specifically to the shrine.

The invitation, posted on the Facebook of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, reads: “We are no Filipinos for nothing. The country needs us. Let’s go to Edsa. Let’s express our sentiments!!! November 27, 2024 —– 4PM”

The Philippine National Police said it had also monitored posts indicating that those who came to Edsa Shrine were offered P500 each to show up.

“There are videos showing that some of them were allegedly transported from their barangays to the venue. They were promised food and cash,” PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said at a press briefing.

Just don’t disrupt traffic

“Without demeaning the purpose and intent of the people there, again, we don’t want to prejudge our countrymen here who were promised and used [by others] for their own vested interest,” she said.

Around a hundred people were at the shrine as of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Fajardo said.

“I understand they were allowed by the management of the Edsa Shrine as long as their purpose was to pray once they entered the chapel. They are prohibited from engaging in any protest action, particularly inside the chapel. They are also not allowed to stay overnight,” she said.

The PNP will only intervene if the gathering disrupts the flow of traffic, Fajardo said.