News Roundup 14 August 2022
Aug 14, 2022 • 5 min Read
Why Tagle is a leading papal contender | INQUIRER.NET – Persistent rumors that Pope Francis would resign because of old age and various infirmities, including a recent colon surgery, have fueled speculations on who the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church would be. All bets appear to be on Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, former Manila archbishop, who heads the very important Dicastery for Evangelization, and is the third most important figure in the Holy See after Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the secretary of state. Tagle’s various Vatican positions, including being head of Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican’s foremost charity and disaster relief agency, have made him a global figure as well. Being appointed by Pope Francis to several offices has been widely seen as the Pope’s way of grooming his successor, that is, if he were following the example of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who renounced the papacy in 2013. Benedict, who said he could no longer cope with the mental and physical demands of the world’s biggest Christian denomination, abdicated his post when he was 85. Francis turned 85 on Dec. 17 last year. In July, before making an apostolic visit to Canada, Pope Francis denied he was resigning soon. But he revived speculations when it was announced he would visit L’Aquila in Central Italy to open the “Holy Door” of the Basilica of Santa Maria Collaggio, where Celestine V is buried. Opening the “Holy Door is part of the annual Feast of Forgiveness, which Celestine V himself instituted. Pope Benedict XVI visited the tomb when he went to L’Aquila in 2009 to inspect the quake damage. After prayer, he left his pallium, the papal stole, atop the tomb. Years later, in February 2013, the significance of this symbolic gesture became apparent to many Catholics when Benedict gave up the “munus Petrinum” (Petrine ministry) that jolted the world. Tagle’s various Vatican positions, including being head of Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican’s foremost charity and disaster relief agency, have made him a global figure as well. Being appointed by Pope Francis to several offices has been widely seen as the Pope’s way of grooming his successor, that is, if he were following the example of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who renounced the papacy in 2013. Benedict, who said he could no longer cope with the mental and physical demands of the world’s biggest Christian denomination, abdicated his post when he was 85. Francis turned 85 on Dec. 17 last year. In July, before making an apostolic visit to Canada, Pope Francis denied he was resigning soon. But he revived speculations when it was announced he would visit L’Aquila in Central Italy to open the “Holy Door” of the Basilica of Santa Maria Collaggio, where Celestine V is buried. Opening the “Holy Door is part of the annual Feast of Forgiveness, which Celestine V himself instituted. Pope Benedict XVI visited the tomb when he went to L’Aquila in 2009 to inspect the quake damage. After prayer, he left his pallium, the papal stole, atop the tomb. Years later, in February 2013, the significance of this symbolic gesture became apparent to many Catholics when Benedict gave up the “munus Petrinum” (Petrine ministry) that jolted the world.
Authorities intervene after 4 killed in ‘rido’ in North Cotabato | INQUIRER.NET – Four persons were killed last Thursday in a “rido” — a clan war — between two Moro groups in Pikit town in North Cotabato, according to a Philippine Army statement issued on Saturday. The rido ceased shortly after the two groups reached an agreement with the intervention of local authorities and Muslim elders. A firefight broke out between the two groups — one headed by Bugdad Matalam Akas and another headed by Commander Walid Mamasamlang — in the early morning of Thursday, Aug. 11, in Sitio Galigayanan, Barangay Macabual. According to the Army, the members of both groups belong to the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Force under the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Three members of Walid’s group died — Ronie Dilanalan, Mama Dilanalan, and Makron Baguinda. All were residents of Barangay Macabual village. A civilian identified as Lito Quiñones was also killed in the crossfire. Two others — a member of the Bugdad group and another civilian — were also injured. The negotiations between the two groups were facilitated by the local police, Pikit town officials, members of the Municipal Peace and Order Council, and some Muslim elders.
Chinese, 3 Pinoys held for P2.4 billion shabu | PHILSTAR.COM – A Chinese man and his three Filipino cohorts were arrested in an anti-drug operation in Pangasinan on Friday. A total of 360 kilos of shabu placed in packs of Chinese tea bags with an estimated street value of P2.4 billion were confiscated from the suspects in Pozzorubio town. Ke Wujia, 49, the alleged leader of the group and a resident of Agoo, La Union, and Johnbert Yagong, 22; Jenson Rey Yago, 29, and Ritchell Repuesto, 28, were arrested. Cell phones, identification cards and assorted documents were reportedly recovered from the suspects. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Wilkins Villanueva said the suspects were under surveillance in the past three months. PDEA agents and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and Bureau of Customs participated in the operation. “I highly commend the joint efforts of our operatives for another significant accomplishment. We will ensure the intensified campaign against illegal drugs and we will never stop until these perpetrators are put behind bars,” Col. Richmond Tadina, Pangasinan police director, said. Authorities said the two suspects arrested for possession of 40 kilos of shabu worth P272 million in Barangay Poro in San Fernando, La Union, also on Friday, are members of the same drug ring. The drug syndicate is believed to be among the major suppliers of illegal drugs in the country.
