Bishop hits low-key EDSA commemoration

Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas, longtime protégé of the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, criticized on Monday the government's low-key commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the People Power revolution. In a statement, Villegas likened the government decision to go low-key on the commemoration to the behavior of pimps and rapists. "This decision…is the usual way pimps and rapists behave. They get what they want and leave the poor abused girl alone. I pity people power!" he said. "Those in the government office chose to use the euphemism 'people power in the heart' because the past 364 days since the last celebration were nothing but abuse and plunder of the legacy of people power," the bishop said. Villegas was beside Cardinal Sin when he led the nation topple two presidents, and served as his secretary for 18 years. He left the EDSA People Power Commission when he was assigned to the diocese of Balanga in July 2004. The transfer gave him a different perspective of the People Power, Villegas said. "What transpired then was not an exodus from slavery to freedom, but a transfiguration showing us how great we can be. This greatness, however, was betrayed by politicians whom people power enthroned," he said. Villegas however praised "emerging faces" of the People Power, such as peoples' cooperatives and groups involved in micro finance, free education, housing, and nutrition programs for the poor. GMANEWS.TV