Palace tells bishop not to discourage people from wearing face masks

Malacañang on Thursday urged Lipa Archbishop-Emeritus Ramon Arguelles not to discourage the people from wearing face masks as the country grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a televised briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said there is scientific evidence that wearing face masks could help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“I hope we stick to our roles in society. Ang mga bishops po kinakailangan sa pananampalataya lang ng tao,” Roque said.

“Sana po gamitin na lang natin ang impluwensiya natin sa lipunan para tulungan iyong bayan na mabawasan ang kaso ng COVID. Well, i-encourage po natin ang pagsusuot ng face mask kaysa po i-discourage.”

Arguelles said in his homily on Wednesday that people need not wear face masks if they have faith in God and love each other.

“Tayo rin naman ay mamamatay. Pero hindi kamatayan ‘yan, pupunta tayo sa buhay na walang hanggan,” Arguelles said.

“Kung nagtutulungan tayo, nagmamahalan tayo, gumagawa nang mabuti, hindi na kailangan ‘yang mask, hindi na kailangan ‘yang face shield, hindi na kailangan ang distancing. Bakit? Mahal tayo ng Diyos at mahal natin Siya at mahal natin ang isa’t isa. We will only do good,” he added.

Arguelles also questioned the government’s stay-at-home order for persons below 21 years old and those who are 60 years old and above.

“‘Yung mga bata [ang] malapit sa Diyos, ‘yung mga matatanda malapit na sa Diyos. Ba’t natin ilalayo? Sinong may kagagawan niyan? Eh di ang demonyo,” he said.—AOL, GMA News