State and Church

Those who dislike Rodrigo Duterte and his brand of leadership, or who cannot accept the draconian methods he employs in his fight against drugs and crime, or are simply shocked by the language he mouths which do not pass the standards of urbanity they prefer of a president of the land, may think they have found a strong ally in the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, which twice became an instrument in toppling governments in this country, is no longer as powerful or influential as it used to be in a perverse sort of way, during the years when the unlamented Cardinal Sin was its unelected leader.

Filipinos have realized that their lives did not get any better, and in fact became worse, after they listened to the interventionist voice of the man called Sin. In Edsa One, there may have been great moral outrage which synthesized with the moral posture of the Church in the Philippines. There was largely a grave doubt in the public mind that their vote was robbed by the Comelec under strongman Marcos. This broke the camel’s back, which was under great strain since the assassination three years earlier of Ninoy Aquino. The conviction was strongest, and the opposition was most vociferous in Metro Manila, the seat of political and economic power.

To continue reading Lito Banayo's article for the Manila Standard, click above image.