Duterte should go after ‘religious oligarchs’ —Lagman

President Rodrigo Duterte should rein in the country's "religious oligarchs" that  “unduly pressure the faithful or their adherents to follow their electoral and policy choices and decisions,” veteran lawmaker Edcel Lagman said.

“It is an open secret that an influential religious group has pressured not a few members of the House of Representatives to reject ABS-CBN’s application for a franchise renewal because of its perception that the reportage of the network on a particular issue was against its interests,” the Albay representative said.

Lagman, however, did not name the religious oligarchs he was referring to.

“The pulpit or the altar should be used to propagate the word of God, not to demonize policymakers or encroach on the sanctity of the ballot,” he said.

“These religious oligarchies are more insidious because they do not only control the mind but also the spirit of their followers under the pain of eternal damnation or defeat at the polls of the candidates they oppose,” he added.

While religious oligarchs can participate in the national discourse on policy questions and can support political candidates, Lagman said that they should not dictate and enforce their will over their followers.

“If we want our electorate to develop and mature, we should stop the pernicious practice of candidates trooping to priests and ministers during election time supplicating for their endorsement," he said.

At least 85% of Filipinos are Catholic, but the Catholic Church leaders do not endorse candidates during elections.

Three days ago, the President boasted in a speech in Jolo that he was able to dismantle the oligarchs, including the Lopez family who owns ABS-CBN.

Before Congress denied ABS-CBN's franchise application last week, the President said in December 2019 that he will see to it that the network is out by this year. —LDF, GMA News