CBCP head ‘disturbed’ by PNP complaint vs priests

MANILA, Philippines — The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is disturbed that four prelates were being tagged in the sedition complaint filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) with the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

In a statement, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles yesterday defended Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco and retired Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr., who were among the 35 persons identified in the PNP’s complaint.

“I know these bishops quite well,” Valles added. 

Valles served as Villegas’ deputy while David is the CBCP’s current vice president.

Valles said while David and Villegas may be vocal in expressing their criticisms, he is certain that they are not involved in any seditious activities. 

“These are individuals whose love for country and dedication for the welfare of our people I cannot doubt,” Valles added. 

He said he offers prayers for the bishops.

“I pray that they may remain calm and confident that in the end, they will be found innocent,” Valles said, adding that he is praying for the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

“I always keep my respect and confidence in the people in government who are involved in the processes regarding the cases filed against these bishops. I pray to the Lord for them, that fairness and truth will guide them,” he added.

For his part, Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos said when Villegas supposedly met Peter Joemel Advincula on Dec. 12 last year, the Lingayen-Dagupan prelate was in his Diocese in Balanga, Bataan.

“He was the homilist of our newly ordained priest Fr. Jersey Prepose as he celebrated his first mass at 6 p.m. on Dec. 12,” Santos added. 

Advincula, who claims to be Bikoy in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, is the lone witness of the PNP-CIDG in the complaint they filed before the DOJ last July 18. He identified 36 people who allegedly orchestrated and contributed to the release of the videos that implicated family members of President Duterte in illegal drugs.

‘Persecution, madness’

Meanwhile, the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) issued a two-page statement urging Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to “immediately throw out” the criminal complaint filed against their officers and members, including chairman Jose Manuel Diokno and regional coordinator for Metropolitan Manila Theodore Te.

The lawyers group also condemned the criminal complaint filed by the PNP-CIDG.

“The charges are not only baseless, they are meant to silence and persecute human rights lawyers, opposition leaders and the Church, and to send a message to anyone who dares to criticize this administration,” FLAG said.

As this developed, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) urged the political opposition to stand up against the Duterte administration.

The CPP also denounced the sedition cases filed against Vice President Leni Robredo, Sen. Leila de Lima and at least 30 other individuals.

The communists called on the opposition “to stand up to Duterte’s schemes” and further urged them “to join the broad masses of the Filipino people in resisting through mass protests the regime’s tyranny, terrorism and national treachery.”

“(Duterte) should stop his destructive governance in order to minimize the damage that his administration has already caused. He should stop his mismanagement,” De Lima said.

De Lima added that it would be best for the country if Duterte steps down from his post and faces justice for the thousands of killings during his watch.

She said Duterte “should stop his madness.”

“In the end, we will all pay for the six years (and even more) that Duterte has spent destroying this nation,” De Lima added. – With Artemio Dumlao, Cecille Suerte Felipe