EDITORIAL - When a fight is lonely, better find out why

Roberto Reyes is accusing the media of having misquoted Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma regarding the latter's stand on plans to cut trees along Cebu's southern routes. Palma was quoted by media as having said he supported the cutting of these trees if they endanger human life. The statement was issued after three trees have already fallen on some roadside houses.

It is difficult to pick a fight with a person like Reyes who apparently has a mind that works in mysterious ways. Nevertheless, if he has a chance to read this, we would like to inform him, since it is very clear that the information he has is incomplete, that Palma has actually reiterated his position to eliminate the possibility that the first time he spoke may have been taken by some with ambiguity.

Even if the media would humor Reyes and admit that Palma may have been misquoted the first time, there is no chance in hell — visions of which appear to Reyes about people who disagree with him — that they can misquote him a second time. Palma, in reiterating his position, gave it as an unsolicited statement. And he gave it precisely as a subtle rebuff of Reyes.

Reyes, you see, is a disrespectful person. When Palma first issued the statement, Reyes went to the Archbishop's Palace to deliver a letter criticizing the prelate's position. What nerve this fellow has. He has no respect for his superior. But then what can anyone expect for such a confused individual who cannot seem to decide what he really wants to do, attend to his priestly duties or meddle in the affairs of others.

If Reyes is truly a man of God, he should be ready to respect the position of others. After all, nobody is stopping him from espousing his causes. When he flew all the way down to Cebu (he is supposed to be a priest based in Luzon) and climbed trees that had been due for cutting, the cutters stopped in deference to concerns for his own safety.

Palma never said a word about what Reyes did. Palma respected the position Reyes took, even if it is very difficult for anyone to respect Reyes himself. Reyes should take that as a cue — that in this world, it is natural for people to take different positions, and that the only thing that is stopping people from killing one another is the infinite goodness of God to make people respect one another's position even if such a position may differ from theirs.

Reyes should respect the position of Palma. If he can't make Palma budge from his position, he shouldn't blame others for it. If he must blame, he must be sure of his accusations. The media never misquoted Palma. That Palma reiterated his position proves he was quoted correctly the first time. If Reyes is truly a man of God, he should apologize, to God, to Palma, and to media, which tolerated and accommodated him all this time. Without media, he will be running in the dark.