Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is embroiled in a controversy involving a statement he read last Friday during his post-birthday celebration, an event which coincided with the meeting of the National Transformation Council in Vidal’s retirement home in Banilad, Cebu City.
Vidal’s bash was well attended by church officials like Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma, Romulo de la Cruz of Zamboanga City, Ramon Arguelles of Lipa City, Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla of Davao, Bishop Ramon Villena of Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya and Bishop Filomeno Bactol of Naval, Biliran. De la Cruz and Arguelles had earlier issued categorical calls for the President to step down.
The following day (Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015) all three Cebu dailies came up with almost the same front page stories.
Ador Vincent S. Mayol of Cebu Daily News in his article headlined “Vidal Backs Call” wrote, “For the second time since October last year, Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal added his voice to calls for President Aquino to step down.”
“Reading a statement at his retirement home in Cebu City, Vidal yesterday referred to the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash where 44 police commandos were killed.”
“Various assemblies convened by the National Transformation Council (NTC) strongly articulated that the President should step down,” he (Vidal) began.
“We, bishops of the Catholic and other Christian Churches, have often been asked if there is a moral basis to this growing demand. Recent developments have made this call even more urgent and imperative.”
Jessa Agua of the Freeman almost had the same lead in her story “P-Noy urged to quit.”:
“Along with other bishops, the influential Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal in Cebu yesterday called for President Benigno Aquino III to step down so that the Philippines may have a fresh start.”
Sun.Star Cebu ran the same story, “Vidal tells Aquino: Time to step down” written by Flornisa Gitgano.
The lead paragraph stated: Six officials from the Catholic church and three members of religious groups joined Friday the National Transformation Council’s (NTC) call for President Benigno Aquino III to “step down.”
As we all know by now, Vidal was churned by criticisms following his statements. Comments that he was not correctly quoted prompted the local media to review his audio clips to see if he improvised on the statement prepared by the NTC.
This is all for accuracy’s sake but as an observer, I think cross-checking the Cardinal’s statements whether or not he really issued the call for P-Noy to step down is rather absurd.
Vidal’s presence and participation in the anti-Aquino movement is proof enough that he is seeking the ouster of the President. There is no room for doubt about Vidal’s sentiments, otherwise, he would have excluded NTC key players from his celebration.
On Sunday and Monday this week, the media liaison officer of the Cebu Archdiocese defended the retired Cebu prelate.
Msgr. Joseph Tan described Cardinal Vidal’s position as his “own way of starting a dialogue.” Tan added, “Cardinal Vidal never openly called for the resignation of past presidents.”
Well, maybe not in the past but this time around Cardinal Vidal was very clear where he stands. He has been saying this since October 2014.
On the other hand, what is wrong about taking a position at this time when the country is burdened by a crisis triggered by the Mamasapano massacre? The issue strikes at the heart of governance and I believe church officials are obliged to provide a principled direction.
Church leaders certainly invite criticism if they intervene in issues like gasoline price increases, the lack of rice supply, textbooks and classrooms but not on the Mamasapano massacre.
Last Monday, I picked up a report that a local radio station ran a survey asking listeners if they favor a coup d’état. The results, as relayed by a friend, almost made me fall off my seat: 67 percent favored a military takeover.
What this feedback tells us is that our people are so frustrated and desperate for a process which would satisfy their demands for truth and justice about the SAF 44 that they are now open to extreme measures.
Filipinos are looking for a moral compass but can’t find it in the call of religious figures in NTC because many of them were silent during the Hello Garci and NBN ZTE scandals that rocked the country during the Arroyo administration.