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Senior bishop denies Catholic Church organized 'EDSA Tayo'


A senior bishop on Monday clarified the Catholic Church was not behind the group "EDSA Tayo", which is organizing a prayer vigil against the pork barrel system this Wednesday at the EDSA Shrine.

The Catholic Church did not organize that movement. We only gave them permission to use the shrine as the venue of their mass and vigil,” said Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, according to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines website.

“We allowed them to use the shrine upon seeing that their program is orderly and systematic,” he added, “They just want to call on the citizens to be more vigilant.”

Pabillo chairs the CBCP's National Secretariat for Social Action.

The EDSA Tayo vigil on September 11 follows-up on the anti-pork gathering at the Luneta in Manila last August 26 called the Million Person March.

Wednesday's gathering is separate from another anti-pork gathering at the Luneta on September 13.

Pabillo also said that the Church will not compel the faithful to join Wednesday's vigil.

“If you choose to come or not, it is up to you. This just shows how great your stand is regarding this issue,” he said.

September 11 sacrifice

Pabillo also said the September 11, a regular workday, was a call for people to "sacrifice" and stand against the pork barrel system.

“Those who will go there will not just come for leisure, but will pray for the fulfillment of the cause they are fighting for,” the bishop explained.

Pabillo also restated the CBCP's stand that the pork system, which offers temptations to commit graft, should be abolished to restore integrity in government.

“We call for the total abolition of all forms of pork barrel—from the presidential up to the barangay level. Even councilors and youth leaders (Sangguniang Kabataan) have their own forms of pork. This big amount of money serves as a source of corruption that is why it has to be abolished,” he said.

"Basic services must be provided by the government to its people,” he added. — DVM, GMA News

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