News Roundup 05 May 2022
May 05, 2022 • 5 min Read
Leni-Kiko tandem backed by over 250 priests, nuns, religious leaders of Cebu archdiocese | INQUIRER.NET – At least 92 priests of the Archdiocese of Cebu on Thursday openly endorsed the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo and the vice-presidential bid of her running mate, Senator Francis Pangilinan. This is the first time a number of priests endorsed specific candidates unlike in previous elections when they simply released guidelines to help voters select good leaders. “We view the coming May 9 elections as not just one ordinary electoral exercise. It has become the battle for the soul of our beloved country. It is a fight not just between political personalities,” a statement from the Padre Madre Misyonero for Leni (PMML) read. “Rather, we are asked to decide whether we want a government guided by the rule of law and respect for our cherished freedoms or do we want to continue the gradual, though evident, diminution of our liberties. Do we continue to be like the proverbial frog swimming in a pot of slowly boiling water (CBCP, July 2020), or do we jump out of the pot especially now that an opportunity presents itself?” The group said they are painfully aware of the dangers of the Catholic Church becoming power brokers. “But times are extremely abnormal and we believe that silence in front of a possible return of a lamented past is even more dangerous. Since the reign of God should be reflected in all aspects of our lives, we believe that it is part of our prophetic calling to denounce the disinformation and historical revisionism that now accompany the attempt to return to power by the family that has destroyed democratic institutions and pillaged the country,” they said. The 92 archdiocesan priests were joined by 167 nuns, religious leaders, and consecrated persons of the Archdiocese of Cebu. Before presenting their statement, the group held a Holy Mass at the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Our Lady of Guadalupe in Cebu City. Robredo’s daughter, Dr. Tricia Robredo, was also present during the activity.
After Ragos coercion claim, De Lima to file supplemental rap vs Aguirre | PHILSTAR.COM – Sen. Leila de Lima on Thursday said she will file a supplemental complaint against former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, whom a prosecution witness has accused of coercion to give false testimony against her. “Because of [Rafael] Ragos’ recent affidavit pointing to Aguirre as the mastermind behind his false testimony against me, I will file a supplement to the Complaint I filed against Aguirre with the Ombudsman in 2017,” de Lima said in a dispatch on Thursday. “This complaint includes a criminal complaint for offering false testimony, use of falsified documents, and grave coercion. Ragos’ affidavit will serve as strong evidence, together with other documents I already submitted to the Ombudsman, that Aguirre committed these criminal offenses against me when he ordered the preparation and filing of fabricated drug charges against me,” the senator continued. Ragos is a key witness in the DOJ’s case against De Lima. He testified that he gave two tranches of P5 million each to De Lima’s aide, Ronnie Dayan—but he recanted this in his affidavit on April 30. De Lima made the statement after Aguirre, on Wednesday, denied the contents of Ragos’ affidavit where he accused the former DOJ chief of threatening him into corroborating another witness’ testimony to pin down de Lima on drug charges.
Robredo, Pangilinan to hold miting de avance in Makati | PHILSTAR.COM – Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate Sen. Francis Pangilinan will hold their miting de avance on Saturday in Makati City. Robredo’s campaign manager, former senator Bam Aquino, confirmed that the final campaign rally of the opposition tandem and their ticket would be on Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue. Tomorrow, Robredo will return to her home region Bicol for a series of grand rallies in Sorsogon City, Legazpi City in Albay and Naga City in Camarines Sur. The Vice President returned to Mindanao yesterday for a series of campaign activities in Pantao Ragat, Lanao del Norte and Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. She will return to Caraga on Thursday to attend various activities, including a grand rally organized by supporters in Agusan del Sur. Robredo and Pangilinan continued to secure more endorsements from local leaders and representatives from various sectors less than a week before the elections. In Cagayan de Oro, various groups have switched their support from rivals Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to the opposition tandem. Among those who declared their support for Robredo and Pangilinan were members Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa in Northern Mindanao, First Community Cooperatives Foundation and Mindanao Women Council Advocacy. Pangilinan was in the city to campaign with Mayor Oscar Moreno, who is running for governor of Misamis Oriental. “What we need is an administration that can unite the people. An administration that is humble, an administration that is focused on addressing the problems of the country… The leadership should inspire the people,” Moreno said. “We have had many moments of destabilization. What we need is to get our country back on its feet and work together and (I see that) the only person who can lead our country now, that can effectively result in the country’s economy rebounding is President Leni Robredo,” he added. In Bataan, former governor Ding Roman also declared his support to Robredo and Pangilinan. He urged supporters in the province “to contemplate on the issues at hand and support the candidate most qualified to lead and preserve the democratic institutions we have fought hard for.” The United Church of Christ in the Philippines Council of Bishops also endorsed Robredo and Pangilinan, describing them as the best option for the Filipino people.
