WALK FOR LIFE PRESS BRIEFING. From left: Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer and Rev. Fr. Ely Suico. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Pro-life advocates called on Cebuanos — Catholics or not — to join the “Walk for Life” on Saturday, February 18, to voice out opposition to plans to revive the death penalty and the spate of drug-related killings in the country.
“The time for us to speak up and unify has come. If you believe in the sacredness of life and God being the author of life, then join us,” said Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, vice president for the Visayas of the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma has encouraged seminarians, priests, and lay people in Cebu to join the prayer walk which will start with a program at 4 p.m. at the Plaza Sugbo grounds, in front of Cebu City Hall.
Bullecer said they are expecting at least 1,000 people to join the event — the first of a series of activities to denounce anti-life laws and policies of government.
Among those expected to give their statements during the event are Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu City’s north district, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, Fe Barino of the Archdiocesan Service Committee, Carmelita Seno of the Council of the Laity, Sr. Maria Luisa Javier, and Archbishop Palma.
A ceremonial burning of the copy of the death penalty bill will also be held during the event to be followed by the lighting of candles and walk to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
“Some people are asking why the Catholic Church always intervenes in political matters. Long before human laws were created, divine law already existed. And the 10 Commandments are there to guide us,” Bullecer said in a press conference yesterday.
He said they are hoping all 10 district representatives in Cebu will vote against the reimposition of death penalty.
“We hope and pray that they will be convinced to stand up for what is right. And I hope they won’t be coerced or threatened in case they vote against the death penalty,” Bullecer said.
Fr. Eligio Suico, chairman of the Cebu archdiocesan commission on family and life, said every person, no matter how sinful, is capable of changing his or her life for the better.
“The Church always stands up for life. We’re not imposing our religion here, but we only speak the truth. When you kill a person, it is not his or her life which you claim but that of God,” he said.
Bullecer said the Church is against death penalty which “punishes just the poor, condemns the innocent to die, does not stop crimes, as well as cruel and against God’s law.”
On the same day, another Walk for Life organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will be held at the Quirino Grandstand from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.
The call to march came days after the CBCP released a pastoral statement against President Rodrigo Duterte’s “reign of terror” and his government’s bloody war on drugs./USJ-R Intern Delyne Marl A. Saragena