‘The Sooner, The Better’

Published on August 31, 2005

“It’s time for the people to defend their own liberties. We (bishops) will plan about (persuading) the people to come out, the people should come out. The sooner, the better.”

By Bulatlat.com

A Catholic bishop who early July was one of the first group of church leaders who called for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation, has urged the people to take to the streets in order to remove the president.

Novaliches Bishop Antonio Bishop, interviewed by Bulatlat at the gallery Aug. 30 as the House Committee on Justice plunged into acrimonious debates over the President’s impeachment, said: “I think it’s time for the people to defend their own liberties. We (bishops) will plan about (persuading) the people to come out, the people should come out. The sooner the better.”

Tobias had in the morning led a mass for truth and justice at the St. Peter’s Parish Church on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City near the Batasan complex, the headquarters of the House of Representatives.

A newspaper quoted the bishop as calling on the people to unite to oust the President.

Tobias later led the march of about 5,000 protesters to the Batasan gate.

Observing the committee proceedings that led to the shooting down of the amended impeachment complaint, Tobias called it “a mockery of justice.”

“It is a pity that Congressman (Simeon) Datumanong (the committee chair) can do that. He is stupid really and doesn’t know what he’s doing, really. I think this is a grand plan that the president want these things quashed before she goes to the U.S. and address the United Nations. She is going to get all kinds of protests and rallies there. So what kind of country are we showing ourselves? This is a pity.”

Tobias also called the committee proceedings “a whole travesty of justice, a sham.”

He urged fellow priests and nuns to be with the people. “As part of their own vigilance, they should, as shepherds, bring their people into prayers and analysis of the situation. So that the people can make up their own minds.”

The bishop is also with the Inter-Faith Movement for Truth, Justice and Genuine Change (IFM). Initiated by the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) and the Diocese of Novaliches, IFM counts the support and membership of various religious institutions/faith-based groups including the United Muslims for Morality and Truth (UMMAT) and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the largest group of Protestant churches in the country. (Bulatlat.com)