By Christina Hermoso
The Philippine Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services, Inc. and Federation of Trans-parochial Charismatic Communities have expressed their support for the Church leaders accused of sedition and cyber libel.
Council of the Laity of the Philippines logo (Photo from Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas Facebook)
Dr. Arcadio Tamayo, national president of the charismatic group, said they have been in close partnership with the accused clergymen in serving charismatic communities and as such have witnessed “the goodness of these bishops and genuine love for the country”.
“We, the Philippine Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services, Inc. (PHILCCRS) and the Federation of Trans-parochial Charismatic Communities (FTCC) stand together with all the laborers in the vineyard of God in our pursuit of truth, justice, and peace for our country. We will continue our work of building the Kingdom by proclaiming the truth and our mission to defend God’s people by seeking justice for the maligned, persecuted, and the oppressed,” Tamayo said.
“Having worked through the years so closely with Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, and Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, our organizations can attest to their good-will and moral ascendancy,” he added.
Tamayo, likewise, encouraged the faithful to “pray for justice for their bishops and priests”.
The Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has accused Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, Novaliches Bishop-Emeritus Teodoro Bacani, Father Albert Alejo, Father Robert Reyes, and Father Flaviano Villanueva of sedition and cyber libel along with several opposition leaders including Vice President Leni Robredo.
Government prosecutors have scheduled today, August 9, the preliminary probe on the cases filed by the police against the clergymen and several opposition figures. The Department of Justice has already summoned all the accused to the investigation.