Bishop Emilio Marquez. FILE PHOTO
Some of the harshest criticisms against moves to amend the Constitution were aired by a top Church official in Quezon province and survivors of Super Typhoon “Yolanda.”
In Quezon, Bishop Emilio Marquez said tinkering with the Constitution would be self-serving for President Aquino.
“When you acquire power, you don’t want to leave,” the bishop said in a politically-charged homily during Mass for the birth anniversary of Manuel Quezon, who was head of the then Philippine Commonwealth.
Without naming names but apparently referring to President Aquino and his close allies, the bishop said “there are persons who want to destroy the country.”
“No one has the right to destroy our Supreme Court. No one has the right to clip the powers of our justices. That is wrong, that is wrong!” he said in reference to Aquino’s tirades against the Supreme Court following the high court ruling declaring the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional.
Quoting Quezon, Marquez urged the people to be brave in upholding the sanctity of the Constitution and the laws of the land “even if it means offering one’s life.”
In Tacloban City, a group representing survivors of Yolanda expressed outrage over Aquino’s statement favoring constitutional amendments to extend his term.
“Instead of talking of giving another term for him, we should focus on the rehabilitation of areas hit by Yolanda. Let us not talk about the 2016 elections,” said Marissa Cabaljao, spokesperson of the group People Surge.
“Because of this 2016 talk, the issue on Yolanda and helping us victims is no longer being given much attention. This is unfair to us victims,” Cabaljao said.
She lambasted Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II who was the first to push for a second term for Aquino.
“He is the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and yet he is the very first one to transgress our laws,” Cabaljao said.
People Surge earlier called for the resignation of Mr. Aquino for failing to address the plight of Yolanda victims. With report by Joey A. Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas