黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� A Catholic Church leader appealed for sobriety and prayers over what he called a 鈥渂rewing political storm,鈥� noting how it had distracted and 鈥渄rained鈥� the energy of government leaders who should be focused on uplifting the poor.

鈥淥f late, events in our country have been disconcerting. Many of our people are still reeling from the effects of the onslaught of recent typhoons,鈥欌�� Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula said in a statement on Wednesday.

鈥淭he brewing political storm that our political leaders are facing has drained their energy to serve those in most need and the neglected,鈥� Advincula added.

READ: PNP: Duterte supporters allegedly promised payment for Edsa rally

The cardinal鈥檚 statement, which did not name any political leader, came a few days after Vice President Sara Duterte again went on a rant and said she had arranged to have President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated if an alleged plot to kill her succeeds.

Advincula called on Filipino Catholics to pray that their leaders 鈥渞eceive the grace to exercise statesmanship in most trying times so that sobriety may prevail in our land and that political issues and personal interests may not divide the nation.鈥�

He also asked 鈥渓eaders of goodwill鈥� from the different sectors 鈥渢o do what they can to prevent the escalation of political and personal conflicts.鈥�

Meanwhile, Fr. Jerome Secillano, rector of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, popularly known as Edsa Shrine, denied social media reports that the pro-Duterte crowd that flocked to the church on Tuesday was 鈥渟hooed away.鈥�

Edsa Shrine 鈥榩awns鈥�

鈥淭hey even expressed thanks before they left after the 6 p.m. Mass. They said it was a good thing that they were allowed to stay inside the Edsa Shrine,鈥� Secillano said in a Facebook post.

But he called out the unnamed organizers of a 鈥渞ally鈥� that was supposed to be held outside the shrine and attended by the Mass-goers.

鈥淚 am appealing to the organizers of this 鈥榬ally.鈥� Please don鈥檛 take advantage of these people. Don鈥檛 make them your hapless pawns. You鈥檝e been exploiting them for too long,鈥� Secillano said.

鈥淭hese people need genuine care. They are waiting and hoping. But you made them believe that help and change are coming. They are disillusioned with your empty promises, [rhetoric], and your feigned concern for them. Please stop your evil ways. These people deserve better!鈥� he added.

Roque鈥檚 call

Social media posts earlier made the rounds inviting Duterte supporters to gather on Wednesday afternoon on 鈥淓dsa,鈥� which pertains to the highway, not specifically to the shrine.

The invitation, posted on the Facebook of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, reads: 鈥淲e are no Filipinos for nothing. The country needs us. Let鈥檚 go to Edsa. Let鈥檚 express our sentiments!!! November 27, 2024 鈥斺�� 4PM鈥�

The Philippine National Police said it had also monitored posts indicating that those who came to Edsa Shrine were offered P500 each to show up.

鈥淭here are videos showing that some of them were allegedly transported from their barangays to the venue. They were promised food and cash,鈥� PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said at a press briefing.

Just don鈥檛 disrupt traffic

鈥淲ithout demeaning the purpose and intent of the people there, again, we don鈥檛 want to prejudge our countrymen here who were promised and used [by others] for their own vested interest,鈥� she said.

Around 100 people were at the shrine as of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Fajardo said.

鈥淚 understand they were allowed by the management of the Edsa Shrine as long as their purpose was to pray once they entered the chapel. They are prohibited from engaging in any protest action, particularly inside the chapel. They are also not allowed to stay overnight,鈥� she said.

The PNP will only intervene if the gathering disrupts traffic, Fajardo said.