CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas (Photo: CBCPNews)
MANILA, Feb. 16, 2015–The Catholic hierarchy said it would not support moves to that could bring ‘greater suffering’ to Filipinos.
Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said that “adventurism or grandstanding” will not resolve the problems currently besetting the country.
“While resolute action is necessary on the part of all, precipitous action and recourse to extra-constitutional measures will only visit more harm and misery on our people,” Villegas said.
Reports of a planned coup erupted following the controversial police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao wherein 44 commandos were killed by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Archbishop Villegas also warned politicians of taking advantage of the situation for their political interests, saying that “this is not the time for political opportunism.”
“The CBCP cannot lend its support to any movement that may bring greater suffering for our people,” he added.
The bishops also opposed strongly renewed calls for an all-out war as it will only worsen the situation in Mindanao.
The CBCP head maintained that pursuit of peace is the only way to initiate development in the region.
“The CBCP offers its assistance to the pursuit of lasting peace, a settlement of differences that will allow the people of Mindanao , Muslims and Christians alike including indigenous peoples to live in peace and as equals, citizens of one Republic, nationals of one country,” he said.
“We hold it to be morally obligatory for the government and for the restive segments of Philippine society to search for the paths of peace,” Villegas said.
He also said that “the goal must not solely be the cessation of hostilities at any cost, but a principled settlement of the dispute, and peace born out of truth, a commitment to social justice and adherence to the fundamental law of the land”. (CBCPNews)
