By Willie Ng
DURING the Catholic-led rally Sunday at the Rizal Park, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines warned that although Malacañang had withdrawn the Con-Ass threat, the people must not let their guard down.
But even as they gave the warning, the bishops themselves let their guard down.
Flushed with feelings of goodwill following the President’s unequivocal rejection of the Con-Ass, they accepted the administration’s harsh and unprecedented conditions for the conduct of the rally.
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First, politicians and actors should not go up the stage, much less give a speech. They would be arrested if they did.
Second, even evangelists such as Brother Mike Velarde of El Shaddai and Brother Eddie Villanueva of Jesus is Lord would be banned from the stage.
Third, no placard or banner could be brought into the park. These must be surrendered to the police at the Taft Ave. side of the park.
Fourth, prominent personalities, be they politicians such as senators or private citizens such as former President Corazon Aquino must stay in seats fenced off from the stage.
Not even the Martial Law administrations of another era ever thought of such humiliating impositions.
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As if these were not enough, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez warned that leftist elements would bomb the rally while police checkpoints turned away busloads of rallyists from the provinces.
With all that, the crowd at the rally was much smaller than expected. A stunning success for the administration, a bitter defeat for the bishops.
But there is a trade-off. Activist bishops have strengthened their position in the CBCP, led by conference president Msgr. Angel Lagdameo, Msgr. Antonio Tobias, Msgr. Oscar Cruz, Msgr. Deogracias Iñiguez, Msgr. Teodoro Bacani and others.
Vengeance belongs to the Lord, saith the Good Book. These people are His representatives.
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