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| Vol. XX No. 46 |
January 24, 2001 |
Virac, Catanduanes |
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The Catanduanes Tribune Rawis, Virac Catanduanes, Philippines - 5001 Tel. No.: (052) 811-1267 or 811-2640 Fax No.: (052) 811-1267 E-mail:
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Publisher-Editor Edwin A. Gianan |
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Advertising- Circulation Manager Simeon G. Cueno |
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Web Master: Calgary, Canada |
Headline News
Prayer
rally a warning
to erring local officials
About
300 anti-Erap protesters wound through the capital town's main streets
last Friday afternoon as they served a warning to corrupt and abusive
local officials that the people's eyes are on them.
Spearheaded
by the local Catholic church leadership and religious youth, the March for
Truth and Justice started at 3 P.M. of January 19 with the simultaneous
ringing of church bells followed by a minute of silent prayer.
Led
by a Pajero bearing a black coffin, the 200-strong crowd then followed the
processional route and stopped for five minutes infront of the Virac
municipal building where Rev. Fr. Paul Isorena tried to persuade employees
to join the march. Estrada friend Mayor Cito Alberto was inside his office
at the time, attending to scores of applicants for mayor's permits.
The
group, trailed by two black, luxury vehicles owned by Rep. Leandro B.
Verceles, Jr. as well as private cars, then went to the Catanduanes
College area before proceeding to the provincial capitol where the
marchers egged provincial officials and employees to join the peaceful
protest. During this segment of the march, the eyes of residents were
glued to TV screens as Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado led AFP generals
in withdrawing their support from the embattled president.
At
Plaza Rizal, newly-ordained Rev. Randy de Quiroz was a genuine firebrand
as he led the motley crowd, now numbering about 300, in chants of "Erap,
Resign!"
Representatives
of various sectors also delivered messages, with the most telling that of
recently-widowed Ma. Teresa Bagadiong-Herrmann who emphasized with
conviction that the prayer rally is a warning to all provincial and
municipal officials that the people will not be silent in the face of
their misdeeds and abuses.
Rally
organizer Dr. Omar Zantua also asked the people not to make the same
mistake of selling their votes to the highest bidder and choosing leaders
not on the basis of who has the best interests of the province at heart
but who has the most money. “These people only care to fatten their bank
accounts, yet we elect them over and over and over again,” Zantua
lamented.
Later
during a concelebrated mass, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jose B. Molina said the crimes
that were uncovered during the impeachment trial did not begin high in
government, stressing that the people is as much to blame for selling
their votes to the highest bidder.
He
asked the people to enter into a covenant whereby each will not sell his
vote and proudly display outside their homes a placard stating “My vote
is not for sale!”
He
asked elective officials not to be offended by his wish, telling them that
the people do not need roads and bridges, that they need inspiration first
and foremost. “We want to be inspired by public officials of integrity,
of morality, of moral courage, who will make us proud of them,” the
respected clergyman said.
Noting
that it is the people’s defeatist attitude that has weakened their
resolve, Msgr. Molina asked them not to be indifferent. “It takes a few
good men to do nothing for evil to triumph. It takes only one person to do
nothing to permit evil to triumph,” he stressed.
His
remarks were met by polite applause from local officials who were at the
plaza included Rep. Verceles, his wife Natsy, Vice Gov. Alfred M. Aquino,
PBM Carlos Aguilar, PBM Lilia Evangelista, PBM Catalino Gabao, Jr., San
Andres Mayor Antonio Romano, Virac Vice Mayor Hector Sorrera, municipal
councilors Paul Sumalde, Roy Laynes, and Cyl-Bryan Bagadiong. Also present
to lend moral support was former Gov. Severo C. Alcantara but he stayed in
his vehicle throughout the religious service.
