Palace to probe incident vs clergy at Balangiga turnover

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang vowed to look into the claim that Catholic priests were asked to leave the venue during the turnover of the Balangiga bells on Saturday, saying President Duterte would not tolerate such “unethical” conduct.

“The news report quoting a Balangiga priest that a member of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) asked some of the members of the Catholic clergy present in yesterday’s turnover of the Balangiga bells to leave the event before the President’s arrival is being probed,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

The Diocese of Borongan claimed in a Facebook post that its bishop and priests, the Apostolic Nuncio and the United States Military Ordinariate Archbishop were told to leave the Balangiga Plaza before the turnover.

The diocese claimed Duterte only wanted Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles to be in the area.

“There was even the suggestion to the priests present to remove their Roman collars so as not to offend the President. Also, chairs were placed in front of the priests to cover them,” the diocese said in its Facebook post.

Previous reports claimed that an employee from the PMS asked the Catholic clergymen to get out of the venue.

Panelo said he was present at the Balangiga turnover ceremonies before and after Duterte’s arrival at the venue, “but I did not see any move to ask the Catholic clergymen to leave.”

He added that he has not heard any complaint coming from the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Gabriele Caccia and Valles, whom he spoke with just before the President arrived.

“It is absolutely out of the President’s character nor his style to cause mortifications during an event. If it indeed happened, then the same is not authorized and such unethical conduct can not be sanctioned by PRRD,” Panelo said, referring to the Duterte by his initials.

“It could have been done by someone who represented himself or herself as a staff from the PMS,” he added.

Panelo said the priests were seated in the same place before and after the arrival of Duterte. He claimed that Caccia, Valles and other priests were seated in the front row and Duterte approached them to exchange pleasantries.

“(The President) likewise acknowledged their presence in his brief remarks. The Chief Executive even mentioned in his speech that the Filipino nation is one with the Diocese of Borongan in celebrating this historic event,” Panelo said.

“All went well and only the uproarious rejoicing of the Balangiga people and the guests who attended was the contaminating mood at the gathering,” he added.

Panelo said all Filipinos, regardless of political affinity or religious outlook, should come together and rejoice because of the return of the bells.

“We will not allow such a reported unwanted incident to spoil this momentous occasion. The tolling of the Balangiga bells ushers in a call of unity and peace among us Filipinos. We can only respond in heartfelt approbation,” he said.

Duterte has been at odds with the Catholic Church, which has been critical of his bloody war on illegal drugs.

Earlier yesterday, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) denied that the incident against priests in Balangiga took place.