‘Very pathetic, very ironical’
Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon considered the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as “very pathetic” and “very ironical.”
Buzon led the prayer rally held Friday night in front of San Sebastian Cathedral.
Speaking before a crowd of 200 Catholic faithful, Buzon said “the highest court of the land should be the authority and the last interpreter of the Philippine Constitution but it was marred with the judicial crisis where the very act of removing the Chief Justice was unconstitutional. The SC should be more intelligent than us.”
The bishop said there are many internal squabbles among themselves which are petty ones. The Supreme Court should be bigger than any of those squabbles.
Buzon said that it is sadder because the SC made themselves ready minions of the administration that doesn’t tolerate any opposition, whether individual or institution, that stand its way in the pursuit of a total, absolute power to control.
“That’s what scares me,” he added.
He urged the Catholic faithful to pray. “We pray to our power greater than this power that seems so formidable, thus we appeal to the power that is greater than earthly powers. We have faith that God’s power is greater than any earthly power and at the same time, we need also to do our part more than just prayer.
He also said the public has to be vigilant. “We need to be vigilant to be stewards of these graces, this freedom, this democracy, the Constitution that embodies all these ideals of justice, truth, integrity, and humanity. We have to be vigilant and continue to express our defense. I believe that our human efforts would prevail.
He said he believes that God can unleash his power.
He pointed out that the people have seen the pattern of the administration which is they do away with the opposition who stand against their way.
They call such action as a dictatorship that is in the offing.
“Whatever opposition that it perceives, they knock it down. They did it to the Commission on Human Rights before, when people stood up against initiatives to change the Constitution, also against Senator Leila de Lima who was also very vocal against the administration. But different groups and persuasions unite to fight against these moves,” he said.
“I was surprised that the recent survey showed that 2/3 or 66% of our population against Charter Change. There are positive signs and we just continue to safeguard and be vigilant and
I was surprised that the recent survey showed that 2/3 or 66% of our population are against Charter Change. There are positive signs and we just continue to safeguard and be vigilant and express our views. We will continue to defend our Constitution, the freedom that we have enjoyed that has been hardearned. Never again. We have been through dictatorship. BACOLOD BISHOP PATRICIO BUZON
express our views and stand in the defense of the Constitution. We will continue to defend our Constitution, the freedom that we have enjoyed that has been hard earned. Never again, we have been through dictatorship,” Buzon said.
He thanked the various concerned groups and the civil society for positively responding to the invitation of the Catholic Church for a praying meeting even on a short notice.
Buzon prayed for the intervention of God against all forces that will hamper the freedom of the people.
Prior to the prayer rally, militant groups held a protest at the Fountain of Justice to condemn the ouster of Sereno. / SUNSTAR PHILIPPINES