Bishops call on people to stand up to SC justices ‘tinkering’ with the law

Manila Auxilary Bishop Broderick Pabillo are calling on the people to stand up to justices of the Supreme Court who he says have been abusing their powers to tinker with the law.

At the same time, together with Pabillo, activists priests Robert Reyes, Atilano “Nonong” Fajardo and Joselito “Bong” Sarabia offered incense on Sunday in front of the Supreme Court to exorcise the “evil” deeds of the justices.

Pabillo made this call in his homily during the sixth day of the 11-day prayer vigil of religious groups in front of high court on Padre Faura Street in Manila.

They were protesting against the quo warranto case that Solictor General Jose Calida filed at the SC to unseat Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

“The fght for justice is a fight for love,“ Pabillo said. “Here what we want is justice that they follow the law. But here the terrible thing happened. Those we’re supposed to trust to enforce justice were the ones tinkering with the law and that’s not right.”

“We have to express our sentiments [against it] because as a nation of God, when the interpreters of the laws abuse their positions, we should speak against it,” he said.

Pabillo likened the fight for justice to a form of love – the social dimension of love.

“And that’s love for country. I hope we draw strenth from this kind of love,” he said.

The people should not ignore this situation, said Pabillo.

“Today they’re not yet affected. Later, they would be,” he said.

After the Mass, the priests and protesters crossed the street, sang a protest song, and held vigil in front of Supreme Court gate.

After the prayers, Fajardo and Sarabia lifted a pot of incense.

Together with Reyes who was clutching a bottle of holy water, the priests went to the four gates of the court as if shooing away evil spirits.

“They should stop whatever evil they’re doing. Yes, I’m referring to the 14 justices,” Reyes said. /atm