Category: News

Davao Oriental is a beautiful province. It is home to the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mindanao, the Mt. Hamiguitain Range Wildlife Sanctuary (MHRWS). Its beautiful seascape, including the Pujada, Mayo, and Balete Bay, have also been declared as Most Beautiful Bays in the World (MBBW). In these rich natural frontiers are the unique flora and fauna – most of which are still waiting to be discovered.

However, this natural wonder is consistently being threatened by mining activities. In 2021, the Philippine government approved a Banaybanay Nickel Laterite Mining Project to cover 6,363.3368 hectares of land, spanning Barangays Puntalinao, Causwagan, Pintatagan, Maputi, Panikian, and Mahayag in the Municipality of Banaybanay.

The controversial discoloration of the Mapagba River (banner photo) and nearby river tributaries recently raised concerns among local communities. On January 14, 2022, the said incident occurred after a 12-hour sustained rainfall, giving us a hint of the environmentally-damaging activities upstream. The same phenomenon was documented in an adjacent Barangay Causwagan in December 2020.

Mine tailings pose risk to the livelihood of thousands of people downstream who heavily rely on fishing, rice farming, and tourism. Also, it poses direct threats to the biodiversity in Banaybanay waters, such as the critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Moreover, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology – Department of Science and Technology (PHILVOLCS-DOST), including the Department of Geophysics in Kyoto University and Department of Geography in Hiroshima University, confirmed that Davao Oriental sits on a 320-km stretch fault line, commonly known as the Surigao-Mati FL. Continued mining will aggravate the threats brought by the fault line.

House Bill 1124 (later substituted by House Bill 6563), otherwise known as the “Davao Oriental Mining-Free Zone Act,” has already been approved by the 18th Congress in June 2021, pending approval by the Senate. This Act encapsulates the “policy of the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” Now is the right time to enact this legislation to prevent any more destruction caused by mining.

We call on the power of the people to help us deter the destruction brought about by mining. Please help us SAVE DAVAO ORIENTAL FROM MINING by signing this online petition for the CANCELLATION OF THE BANAYBANAY NICKEL LATERITE MINING PROJECT.

SIGN THE PETITION

A Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

May the peace of Jesus be ours, He who said:
If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:31-32

As we commemorate the EDSA People Power Revolution this February 25, the day we reclaimed our freedom, we call upon you brothers and sisters, whatever your political color or status in society.

We are aware of the complexity of things, especially in the area of politics, as well as our different views. The present state of division among us due to politics, is unfortunate. Yet, we hope all of us consider the common good as foremost concern. Let us respect one another; – not giving in to hatred and rash judgments. Let us diligently seek the truth that we may do what is right and avoid evil.

For many of us, ‘politics‘ is a distasteful word. Yet, Pope Francis invites us all towards a renewed appreciation of politics as “a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good” (Fratelli Tutti, #180). Can our world function without politics? He further asks (cf. FT #176).

We have no ambition of appropriating for ourselves your distinct role as laity in the just ordering of society, nor do we intend to usurp the role of the government. We are here to provide moral and spiritual guidance, in accord with our mission of proclaiming the truth from our faith.

The Truth at Stake

The elections are fast approaching, and we wish to remind you: ‘All citizens, (therefore), should be mindful of the right and also the duty to use their free vote to further the common good’ (Gaudium et Spes, #75). But we are appalled by the blatant and subtle distortion, manipulation, cover-up, repression and abuse of the truth, like: historical revisionism – the distortion of history or its denial; the proliferation of fake news and false stories; disinformation – the seeding of false information and narratives in order to influence the opinion of the people, to hide the truth, to malign and blackmail people. There are troll farms which sow the virus of lies.

Let us examine ourselves. Perhaps we, too, sow the virus of lies, which spreads wildly and numbs our consciences. This virus paralyzes our capacity to recognize God, respect truth and goodness. Thus, we do not realize that there is a ‘pandemic of lies,’ especially in the social media. This is very serious.

In this letter, we favor none but the truth. We wish to warn you of the radical distortions in the history of Martial Law and the EDSA People Power Revolution.

In 1986, some of us were already members of the CBCP. We issued a ‘Post-Election Statement,’ dated February 13, 1986, regarding the systematic disenfranchisement of voters, widespread and massive vote-buying, deliberate tampering of election returns, intimidation, harassment, terrorism and murder. In the same Statement we said: “a government that assumes or retains power through fraudulent means has no moral basis.” Thus, we asked you to see, to judge and to act, clearly not with violence, but through peaceful means. And that was what happened. The people – the NAMFREL, the Comelec computer Technicians, the Poll Officials – registrars, teachers, government workers, millions of ordinary voters together with priests and religious men and women, Radio Veritas and press people acted peacefully. They were not able to take the blatant deception and cheating. They, including Officials in the Batasan, the military, Comelec Officials, followed their conscience. And the events led to EDSA. (cf. CBCP Post-Election Statement, 1986)

We did not invent the historic event that happened in EDSA; it was a fruit of love of neighbor and faith. With you, we were simply part of it. You and the world witnessed the peaceful revolution, which was rightly called ‘People Power.’ The peaceful revolution was not an invention of one person, one party, or one color. It was a triumph of the entire Filipino People.

Many of us, Bishops, were witnesses of the injustice and cruelty of Martial Law. And up until now, the human rights abuses, the victims, the corruption, the grave debt and economic downturn of the country due to dictatorship are all well-documented. Again, we did not make these up. These are all written in our history.

We are alarmed by this distortion of the truth of history and the attempt to delete or destroy our collective memory through the seeding of lies and false narratives. This is dangerous, for it poisons our collective consciousness and destroys the moral foundations of our institutions.

Neglect of truth is detrimental for all of us, for the foundation of a good society and responsible government is the truth. Shall we allow that our children and the young be educated in lies? Can we afford to make lies become the basis of our laws and their implementation? What happens to a family or a society that is not founded on truth?

Dear Brothers and Sisters, let us stand up for truth. Remember: goodness without truth is pretense. Service without truth is manipulation. There can be no justice without truth. Even charity, without truth, is only sentimentalism. An election or any process that is not based on truth is but a deception and cannot be trusted.

Truth is intimately related to freedom (cf. John 8:32). Disrespect for truth is disrespect for freedom. When we disregard truth, we disregard our obligation to be accountable. Can we address corruption if there is no truth? We must be ready to face the truth about ourselves.

The Politics of Truth, Goodness, Justice and Peace

Thus, and also in view of the coming elections, we call on you, Brothers and Sisters – especially the Youth, to examine carefully what is happening in our quest for a true and just society. Engage in dialogue and discernment. Listen to your conscience. Be the ones to decide. We trust in your capacity to discern what is true and good. We all seek the common good. And, in the light of the Gospel of Jesus, let us follow the path of truth, goodness, justice and peace – not the path of violence, vengeance or evil.

Let us not give up on our search and defense for truth – by way of reason and faith, by common dialogue and discernment, prayer and action. Let us have faith as we persevere in overcoming evil by goodness (Romans 12:21). May truth unite us all.

It is our sincere prayer that we find the Truth, who is none other than Jesus –the Way and the Life (cf. John 8:31). For ‘if God is with us, who can be against us?‘ (Romans 8:31).

We ask for the prayers and protection of our Beloved Mother, Our Lady of Peace. May God Almighty bless all our strivings that truth and the good prevail, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

For the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines,

+ PABLO VIRGILIO S. DAVID, D.D. 
Bishop of Kalookan 
CBCP President 
25 February 2022

February 4, 2022

To: All Laiko Members: Arch/Diocesan Councils of the Laity & National Lay Organizations

Dear Brothers & Sisters:

The peace & Love of the merciful Lord!

In line with our common dream and vision to “build together a life integrated in our faith, founded on love, solidarity, righteousness and peace,” the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas will be holding once again the annual WALK FOR LIFE on February 26, 2022, 9:00 am – 11:30 am.

This year however, because of the ongoing restrictions, we will do it again differently. Instead of the actual walk, we will have an online event with the theme: “Sulong LAIKO! Halalang Marangal tungo sa pag-angat ng BUHAY”.

While we continue to uphold, promote and defend the sacredness of life and the dignity of every person, we also would like to take this opportunity to make a clear stand, as we will once again elect our leaders on May 2022. Our country needs good and capable leaders in government who have the political will to serve our country, promote the common good and offer a better life for all.

Kami, ang mga kasalukuyang miyembro ng Lupon ng Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas,  tapat sa aming mandato na maging mga ahente ng pagbabagong panlipunan tulad ng nakapaloob sa kautusang Apostolicam Actuositatem na nagbibigay-diin na ang “renewal of the temporal order” ay dapat gampanan ng mga layko “ bilang kanilang sariling espesyal na obligasyon,” ay naghahangad na gamitin ang utos na ito, “pinangungunahan ng liwanag ng Ebanghelyo at ng isipan ng Simbahan at udyok ng Kristiyanong katangian.” Sa pahayag na ito, patuloy naming pinapa-alalahanan ang aming mga miyembro na “pangunahing gawain ng mga layko, na nabuo sa aral ng Ebanghelyo, na direktang makilahok sa gawaing pampulitika at panlipunan.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Verbum Dei)

Kumuha kami ng mga direksyon mula sa PCP II (Art.8 #1), dahil mahigpit nitong hinikayat na ang mga may “kakayahan at matapat na tao na may integridad” ay dapat na maging mga kandidato sa pulitika at ang mga layko ay dapat “tumulong sa pagbuo ng civic conscience ng populasyon ng pagboto at magtrabaho upang tahasang isulong ang pagpili ng mga pinunong may tunay na integridad sa pampublikong katungkulan.”

Pagkatapos ng serye ng mga sesyon sa pakikinig na isinagawa sa LAIKO Board at mga personal na pagsusuri, sa pamamagitan ng madasalin na pag-unawa, sa mga profile at platform ng mga Presidential Candidates (mula sa ‘science-based’ na pananaliksik, ‘live’ na panayam at ‘data’ na nagmumula sa mga pinagkakatiwalaang mapagkukunan), ang kasalukuyang pamunuan ng Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas ay naka-abot nang mayoryang desisyon (particular, 11 sa 15, na may 3 abstention at 1 absent) tungkol sa pag-endorso ng isang kandidato para sa pagka-Pangulo.

Bagama’t may iba pang mga isyu* na nangangailangan ng karagdagang pag-uusap at pakikipagtulungan, sa palagay namin ay si Bise Presidente LENI ROBREDO, batay sa kanyang ‘track-record’ ng serbisyo, dedikasyon sa mabuting pamamahala, kakayahang magpatupad ng mga pakikipagtulungan at mga programa para sa pagsulong ng mga mahirap, lalo na ang mga nasa laylayan at ang kanyang walang bahid na integridad, ay nadaig niya ang iba.

Sa kasalukuyan nating kaguluhan sa pulitika-ekonomiya at sa sitwasyong pandemya sa Pilipinas, lubos kaming naniniwala na si Bise Presidente Leni Robredo, isang taong may takot sa Diyos, ay ang pinaka-maykakayahang kandidato para sa pagka-Pangulo, at hinihimok namin ang aming mga nasasakupan, kung maaari, na isaalang-alang din ito.

Kaya naman, tahasan naming ine-endorso si Vice President Leni Robredo para sa pinakamataas na posisyon ng ating bayan.

Ipinagkatiwala ang desisyong ito sa ating makapangyarihan at maawaing Panginoon noong Pebrero 5, 2022.

Sa ngalan ng karamihang miyembro,

RAYMOND DANIEL H. CRUZ JR.
Pambansang Pangulo
 CBCP-Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas

Mga Abstention: Gertrudes E. Bautista, Dr. Rene Bullecer at Proculo T. Sarmen 
Wala: Conchita M. Dela Cruz
*May ‘Reservations’ dahil sa kanyang paninindigan sa SOGIE, Same Sex Civil Union at Decriminalization of Abortion: Xavy Padilla