‘No government fund used to build Shrine’

Government funds were not used in the construction of the Our Lady of EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City.

Kalibo Bishop Gabriel Reyes said in an official statement yesterday that the shrine was built with contributions from Catholics and money from the Archdiocese of Manila.

"I was chairman of the construction committee of the shrine," he said. "And I can assure that no government funds went into the construction of the shrine."

Reyes said the land on which the shrine stands was donated by "private persons" to the Archdiocese of Manila.

Earlier, lawyer Jesus Crispin Remulla, spokesman for the Puwersa ng Masa-Lakas ng Demokratikong Pilipino coalition, told reporters the Ombudsman should look into the shrine’s construction.

"We believe that it is now high time for the Catholic Church to bare the expenses and other facts surrounding the building of the EDSA shrine," he said. "Was it really private money? How much did the government contribute if any?"

The shrine’s ownership became an issue after Monsignor Socrates Villegas, Shrine rector, deplored supporters of ex-President Estrada for allegedly desecrating the building during their six-day stay there. – Sandy Araneta