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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider More people at religious events? 'Always an option,' says DOJ Sec. Guevarra

More people at religious events? 'Always an option,' says DOJ Sec. Guevarra

Published Feb 6, 2021 03:40 pm

Will the government soon allow more people to attend religious events?

"It’s always an option, but it has also been a contentious issue in the IATF" (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases), Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said Saturday, Feb. 6.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)

But, he said: "The question is: is public worship such an essential activity that we should freely allow it during the pandemic, subject to the usual health protocols? Some people will say yes, others will say no."

Guevarra said the government will probably allow more leeway "if it could be shown to have a sound empirical basis, and the government’s own data will be controlling most of the time."

He said a formal request from the religious sector may prompt the IATF to include the expansion of religious activities in its agenda.

He assured the religious sectors that they will come up with a fair decision, especially since they have "advocates" among the IATF, citing himself and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III.

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