Palma: Quake is not God’s way of punishing people’
RATHER than be afraid or sow fear, people should pray and help comfort earthquake victims, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said.
“It’s sad that this is happening. Why do some people add more fear by creating hoax messages? This is an uncharitable act. They should be careful even if they are just joking,” the prelate said.
Thousands of Cebu residents slept outdoors last Sunday after false rumors spread that a magnitude 8.0 earthquake would hit Central Visayas again following the Oct. 15 temblor.
A disclaimer was immediately posted by TV 5’s website and Twitter, after the network was cited as the source in hoax alerts spread by text and social networks.
Cebu Daily News alerted one of the networks editors in Manila about the SMS that has gone viral.
The Phivolcs director called a news conference to deny the rumor.
Archbishop Palma, in a pastoral message, said the earthquake was not a curse.
“We don’t subscribe to ideas that God wants to inflict punishment on us through earthquakes. That is not the picture of God. This is an imperfect world and there are events and factors that are beyond human understanding,” Palma said.
In Carcar City, more than 50 families relocated to Bolinawan Elementary School after the text rumors circulated last Sunday.
Jean Suarez, 36 of Barangay Bolinawan said she saw her neighbors panic and was told that they received these text rumors.
“When we arrived in the school, some of them were still panicking and some of them prayed,” she added.
Evacuees
Suarez said her neighbors lived near the river. Suarez said the water from the river rose during the Oct. 15 quake.
“The water in the river turned dark brown and maroon,” she told Cebu Daily News.
The water from the river reached inside a chapel located 100 meters away from the river.
Barangay Councilor Michelle Gador said they attended to the traumatized evacuees and reported the incident to the mayor’s office.
In barangay Labangon, Cebu City, Marina Tito said she and her four children slept outside for fear of their safety.
Residents of barangay Duljo, Pasil and Sawang stayed at the grounds of San Nicolas Elementary School, bringing with them their appliances and belongings.
“As much as we don’t want them to be there because it’s dangerous, we can’t do anything about it when they feel that they can find refuge there,” barangay Lorega chairman Fritzgerald Herrera said.
Phivolcs Science Research Specialist Rolando Montanez said there’s no instrument capable of predicting an earthquake.
“Those text messages are untrue, they are dangerous,” he said.
Palma sent a pastoral letter to all parishes, urging the faithful to send donations to the victims of the earthquake in Bohol. He said all destroyed churches will be rebuilt in due time.
For inquiries on what to do and where to give their donations, Palma said they may contact the Cebu Caritas Office of the archdiocese at telephone numbers 2558830 / 2558835. With Correspondents Michelle Joy L. Padayhag, Fe Marie Dumaboc and Victor Anthony V. Salva
