Iginiit ng paring Katoliko mula sa Eastern Samar, si Fr. Edmel Raagas, na pinaalis ng mga tauhan ng Presidential Management Staff (PMS) ang mga pari at obispo mula sa plaza ng Balangiga ilang minuto bago dumating sa lugar si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, para sa turnover ceremony ng tatlong makasaysayang Balangiga Bells, nitong Sabado.
“Priests, including the Borongan bishop and the Apostolic Nuncio, were initially told to go out of the Balangiga plaza, minutes before the President arrived,” saad sa Facebook post ni Raagas.
Sinabi ni Raagas na ang nasabing utos ay nagmula sa Presidential Management Staff.
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Ayon kay Raagas, sinabihan din umano sila na tanging si Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles ang nais makita ni Duterte sa seremonya.
“When the Nuncio was informed by another bishop to leave, the Nuncio said it would be improper and disrespectful,” kuwento pa ni Raagas.
“The bishops and priests went back to their seats. Later, two priests, including myself, were instructed by PMS to transfer to the seats at the back ‘kasi alam n’yo naman may issues ang presidente sa inyo’.
“We refused because as shepherds we carry in our hearts the joys and pains of the flock that we represent in that program who waited 117 years for the return of those bells which are owned by the Church,” ani Raagas.
Dahil dito, naglagay na lang umano ng mga upuan sa harap ng mga pari upang matakpan sila at hindi makita ng Presidente.
“That was okay for us: we were so humble before the gift of the bells to be received. Nobody can distract us,” sabi ni Raagas.
Sinegundahan naman ng Diocese of Borongan ang sinabi ni Raagas tungkol sa pagpapaalis sa mga pari at obispo sa lugar ng seremonya, at tungkol sa pagtatakip sa kanila ng mga upuan upang hindi sila makita ni Duterte.
Sinabi pa ng diocese na ilang pari ang sinabihan din na alisin ang kani-kanilang Roman collars upang hindi ma-offend si Pangulong Duterte. Nang kuhanan ng pahayag, sinabi ni Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar na ang tanging nakita niya ay binati ni Duterte ang ilang obispo.
“All I saw was the President greeting the archbishop and the other priests present, including the special mention during the speech of PRRD,” saad sa text message sa media kahapon.
May ulat ni Argyll Cyrus
- Geducos
