The historic homecoming of the Balangiga bells in Samar on Saturday, which was supposed to be a day of peace and friendship between the United States and the Philippines, was marred by confusion on whether the President really asked the priests to leave the venue.
Malacañang said there is already an ongoing investigation into reports that a member of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) had supposedly asked some members of the Catholic clergy present in the turnover ceremonies to leave the event before the President’s arrival.
However, Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said he witnessed the turnover ceremonies before and after the President’s arrival but he did not see nor hear about the particular incident, especially from the Apostolic Nuncio and the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
“I was present at the Balangiga turnover ceremonies before and after the President’s arrival at the venue but I did not see any occurrence as described nor hear any complaint coming from the Apostolic Nuncio and the CBCP President whom I talked to just before the President arrived at the ceremonial place,” Panelo said in a statement.
“It is absolutely out of the President’s character nor his style to cause mortifications during an event. If it indeed happened, then the same is not authorized, and such unethical conduct can not be sanctioned by PRRD. It could have been done by someone who represented himself or herself as a staff from the PMS,” he added. Panelo said the priests were seated in the same place before and after the arrival of the President.
“His Excellency Gabriele Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio of the Philippines and Most Reverend Archbishop Romulo Valles, President of CBCP, among others, were seated in the front row, and the President approached them and exchanged pleasantries with them. He likewise acknowledged their presence in his brief remarks,” he said.
Panelo noted that the Chief Executive had mentioned in his speech that the Filipino nation is one with the Diocese of Borongan in celebrating the historic event.
“This is a time when all Filipinos, regardless of political affinity or religious outlook, come together and rejoice an event which we had long sought—and hoped for. We will not allow such a reported unwanted incident to spoil this momentous occasion. The tolling of the Balangiga bells ushers in a call of unity and peace among us Filipinos. We can only respond in heartfelt approbation,” he said.
Malacañang issued the statement after reports came out that someone from the PMS allegedly told priests, including the Borongan bishop and the Apostolic Nuncio, to get out of the Balangiga plaza, minutes before the President arrived for the official turnover of Balangiga bells to local officials.
According to a post from official Facebook page of Diocese of Borongan, President Duterte only wanted Valles to be in the area.
“There was even the suggestion to the priests present to remove their Roman collars so as not to offend the President. Also, chairs were placed in front of the priests to cover them,” the post read.
After the post of the Diocese of Borongan went viral, Facebook User Sherry Zimmer warned that the handler of the said account should take down their “malicious post.”
“It is a sin to lie and you are lying. If you don’t take this malicious post down I most certainly expose you and your evil lies. We have proof that this didn’t happen,” Zimmer said in a post, with an attached video capture of the President shaking the hand of one of the members of the Catholic clergy.
Aloysius Trejo also said in a comment that it can be clearly seen in the video that the President cordially greeted and shook hands with Valles, Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez, Caccia, among others.
He even said the President even waved to the other local priests at the far end of the row while he was on his way to the stage.
“Maybe it’s just the arrogance and over-acting most of the times of the PMS, but certainly not a directive of the President,” Trejo said.
Another user Nnie Que also said that making such post “makes no sense other than to sow intrigue.”
“And this is exactly why PRRD talks the way he does about some church people. You, of all people, must be spreading understanding peace and love. But no. Instead you enjoy causing division among people. Is that a teaching of Christ? You know the answer better than most of us,” she said.
The alleged incident comes as Duterte has repeatedly unleashed tirades against the priests and the Catholic Church.
Earlier, Malacañang announced that the President will not be attending anymore the event in Balangiga town as he needed to attend to “pressing matters of governance.”
However, hours later, Malacañang took back its statement, confirming that the President will be attending the event as he already made changes in his schedule.
Also, the President skipped the official handover ceremony of the bells by the United States to the Philippines at the Villamor Air Base last Tuesday.
The bells were taken by American soldiers from its perch on a church in Balangiga, Samar, in 1901. The church bells were used by Filipino revolutionaries to signal an attack on American soldiers.
