CBCP warns Bongbong possibly intolerant of facts, dissenting opinions

After Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s camp called members of the Catholic clergy agents of “hateful and negative campaigning,” the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Sunday warned the public that the presidential candidate  was possibly intolerant of facts and dissenting opinions.

“By accusing the Church, the public is warned ominously that this candidate might not tolerate factual information and dissenting opinions after all. Hence, the danger of an autocratic regime that subjected many Filipinos to decades of suffering and oppression becomes a possibility if this candidate gets elected,” CBCP Permanent Committee on Public Affairs executive secretary Reverend Fr. Jerome Secillano said in a statement.

Secillano made the remark after Marcos' camp on Saturday rebuked members of the Catholic Church who opposed Marcos’ candidacy, saying they should not allow themselves to become partisan.

Marcos' spokesperson Atty. Victor Rodriguez then claimed that some men of the cloth had allowed themselves to become agents of “hateful and negative campaigning.”

“Why would the Church sow division or promote hatred? We see clearly that the Church only wishes to speak the truth. Truth that is not invented, but rather attested to by historical records and documents,” Secillano explained.

“For the Church to be accused of being partisan, candidates should try approaching Church leaders first. If they are denied or rejected, then those accusations might be true after all,” he added.

Secillano said that the Church and its ministers had been criticized, even hated, for speaking out but they do not complain as it was a part of their mission.

He also pointed out that the Marcos camp did not complain when they got endorsed by another religious leader.

“Ironically, when their camp received the seeming endorsement of a lay religious leader, they did not complain,” he said.

Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy earlier endorsed the tandem of Marcos and presidential daughter Davao Mayor Sara Duterte for Eleksyon 2022.

GMA News Online has sought comment from the Marcos camp regarding Secillano’s statement, but they have yet to reply as of this posting.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Secillano also stressed that being non-partisan is not the same as being neutral.

He said that the Church has always been brave in expressing its stand in the battle against evil, injustice, and lies. However, by being non-partisan, the Church reveals its loyalty to the people and not to any candidate or political party.

“To be neither NEUTRAL nor PARTISAN, my principle is clear; no to incompetent, unjust and self-serving politicians. No to thieves and liars too!” said Secillano. — DVM, GMA News