CBCP panel exec on locked down churches: ‘Kapag may suspected na COVID-19 positive, kailangan sumunod sa protocol’

An official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Public Affairs Committee said Tuesday that health concerns should be given priority over the clamor to open churches to more parishioners.

Father Jerome Secillano, Executive Secretary of the CBCP Public Affairs Committee, said churches should follow health protocols set by the government, which knows more about the nature of the virus and the extent that it has already spread.

“Kapag halimbawa may suspected na COVID-19 positive diyan, kinakailangan nating sumunod sa protocol. Kinakailangan talagang isara,” Secillano told GMA News in a phone interview.

At least three churches in Metro Manila are currently on lockdown because of COVID-19.

Churches in areas under general community quarantine that are not on lockdown, however, can accomodate a maximum of 10 people.

“There may be a clamor for us to open our churches but we have to balance that desire with health considerations also,” Secillano stressed.

“We don’t want also to endanger other people,” he added. — Tina Panganiban-Perez/RSJ, GMA News