A Catholic priest has claimed that priests and bishops were ordered by the Presidential Management Staff to leave the town plaza ahead of the arrival of President Duterte for the turnover ceremony for the historic Balangiga bells in Balangiga, Eastern Samar last Saturday.
“Priests, including the Borongan bishop and the Apostolic Nuncio, were initially told to go out of the Balangiga plaza, minutes before the President arrived,” Fr. Edmel Raagas said in a Facebook post.
Raagas said they were also told by the PMS that the President only wants to see Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles in the turnover rites.
“When the Nuncio was informed by another bishop to leave, the Nuncio said it would be improper and disrespectful,” said Raagas.
“The bishops and priests went back to their seats. Later, two priests, including myself, were instructed by PMS to transfer to the seats at the back ‘kasi alam niyo naman may issues ang Presidente sa inyo,’” he added.
“We refused because as shepherds we carry in our hearts the joys and pains of the flock that we represent in that program who waited 117 years for the return of those bells which are owned by the Church,” Raagas said.
Chairs, he said, were then placed in front of the priests to cover them from the view of the President.
“That was okay for us. We were so humble before the gift of the bells to be received. Nobody can distract us,” said Raagas.
The Diocese of Borongan where Raagas belongs also made the same claim about priests and bishops being asked to leave the area and about the chairs that were placed in front of them to cover them from Duterte’s sight.
The Diocese said some priests were even asked to remove their Roman collars so as not to offend the President.
Malacañang is mum on the claim of the Diocese of Borongan.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, who was present during the event, said that all he saw was Duterte greeting Valles.
“All I saw was the President greeting the archbishop and the other priests present, including the special mention during the speech of PRRD,” Andanar said.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo has yet to respond to queries on the incident as of press time.
Andanar said that he did not see anything that would suggest that the claim of the Diocese happened.
“Wala naman akong nakita. Ang nakita ko lang ay pagpasok ni Presidente doon sa gymnasium, kinumusta niya ang kanyang mga Gabinete tapos ‘yung kanyang mga officers sa Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.
“Then, kinumusta niya ang mga pari at ‘yung bishop (Archbishop Romulo Valles), taga-Davao ‘di ba? Tapos ‘yung Papal Nuncio, tapos ‘yung isang reverend representing the United States military,” he added.
Duterte has aired sentiments against the Catholic Church, accusing members of the religious institution of rape, molestation, and homophobia. He recently claimed that 80 to 90 percent of priests and bishops are gay men.
He also said that bishops should be killed because they know nothing but criticize the government. (Leslie Ann G. Aquino with a report from Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)