LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, March 19 (PNA) — Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said the church has no right to pressure President Benigno Aquino III to resign as a result of the Mamasapano incident.
Interviewed by newsmen after saying a mass at the Sison Auditorium during the launching of the “I Love Pangasinan” movement on March 18, Villegas noted that two or three of his fellow bishops are calling for the resignation of the President as an aftermath of the Mamasapano incident where 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) died.
Calling on those asking President Aquino to resign from office to temper their action, Villegas who is president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines CBCP), appealed to the people not to shorten the process by asking the chief executive to step down.
He called on the public not to be too hasty in their actions and first hear all sides before becoming judgmental over the issue. But on the other hand, he said, the people must not forget that the families of the Fallen 44 are also asking for justice for the death of their loved ones.
He, however, he said he respects the decision of his fellow bishops who voiced out their opinion and sought the resigntion of the President.(PNA)