Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David fears the prospects of a transition council, a revolutionary authorities, or a civilian-military junta
MANILA, Philippines – “What’s subsequent?”
This, for Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, is the explanation he rejects the decision for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte to resign within the face of the nation’s greatest corruption scandal in years.
The resignation name is one key distinction between the two main protests in Metro Manila on Sunday, November 30, the 162nd anniversary of Filipino hero Andres Bonifacio’s beginning. It’s also the explanation why Metro Manila protesters didn’t converge at EDSA as they did final September 21, the first Trillion Peso March that drew lots of of 1000’s of protesters.
On Sunday, on the EDSA Folks Energy Monument in Quezon Metropolis, protesters sought to carry each Marcos and Duterte, in addition to their allies, accountable for systemic injustice. At Luneta in Manila, protesters referred to as for the resignation of each Marcos and Duterte.
“Why are we right here on the EDSA Folks Energy Monument on today?” requested David throughout his speech on the second Trillion Peso March. “Not Luneta as a result of we don’t but imagine within the name of the people who find themselves there proper now. Not but.”
In a 27-minute speech, the cardinal defined that he fears the prospects of a transition council, a revolutionary authorities, or a civilian-military junta, even when it included Catholic bishops as members.
His issues are premised on the idea that the nation’s highest officers would by no means voluntarily relinquish their posts. They might solely resign at gunpoint, he mentioned, if the navy defected from the federal government and referred to as for his or her ouster.
David mentioned he respects Filipinos who’ve arrived on the Marcos-Duterte resignation name “as a result of they’re so bored with the corrupt system.” He continued: “We’re all so drained, proper? However our query to our comrades is: If we wish ‘resign all’ instantly, what’s the different? What’s subsequent?”
“We are not looking for the proposals for a transitional council or revolutionary authorities, as a result of we are not looking for the Philippines to turn into a Banana Republic,” he mentioned.
“We additionally are not looking for a civilian and navy junta, even when we bishops are promised a place within the authorities. As a result of it’s clear to us that politics and authorities are usually not our experience — we are going to by no means be tempted to turn into Talibans. Ours is just ethical and non secular management, that’s the reason we’re right here, with you. We’re simply a part of the church that journeys with individuals,” the cardinal added.
David was amongst these being wooed to affix a civilian-military junta to rule the Philippines rather than the Marcos authorities, in response to Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, convenor of the Trillion Peso March Motion. The cardinal had warned in opposition to snap elections or a navy junta as early as October 8.
The 66-year-old David, who’s the youthful brother of sociologist Randy David, mentioned the Philippines’ democratic system is imperfect, however it’s higher than none. “This can be a work in progress,” mentioned the cardinal.
“In brief, the explanation we went to EDSA is that we don’t need fast options. We don’t should burn down the entire home simply because we wish to catch and maintain accountable the cockroaches and rats of our society. How can we maintain accountable those that must be held accountable after we begin from scratch once more?” mentioned David.
Bayan president Renato Reyes, nonetheless, defended their name for Marcos and Duterte to stop.
“We can’t inform individuals to what extent they will get offended. What if some are actually offended on the President, the Vice President, and the entire system? However nobody is saying that at the moment, we are able to change the federal government. That’s not our agenda at the moment, however we wish to change it,” he mentioned in a mixture of English and Filipino.
Gabriela Consultant Sarah Elago took an inclusive tone on Sunday, stating that protesting is “not a contest” that makes individuals select. “Everybody who fights corruption, who’s with us in altering the system, everybody whose name isn’t pro-Marcos or pro-Duterte however pro-meaningful change, is with us on this battle,” Elago mentioned.
David himself appealed to a way of brotherhood and sisterhood, as he recalled the violence that erupted in Mendiola, Manila, in the course of the first Trillion Peso March on September 21.
“Why did we go to EDSA and to not Mendiola? As a result of we are not looking for violence and chaos. We’re disciples of democracy. We’re calling for actual change, however in a peaceable method. Let’s speak, let’s not battle, we’re brothers and sisters,” David mentioned. – Rappler.com
