Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said he sees no basis for Aquino to resign despite the controversies he is facing because his administration has been effective in implementing reforms promoting good governance.
“We have the separation of the Church and State…. Sa pananaw ko, itong ating mga kaibigang obispo should concentrate more [on] strengthening the moral fiber of all Catholics and all the people in the Philippines rather than asking for the resignation of the President,” he said in an interview over dzBB radio.
The public’s satisfaction with Aquino, Barzaga noted, bounced back last month after falling to a record low in June, a new survey by pollster Social Weather Stations suggests.
For the lawmaker, the President’s high satisfaction rating only proves the National Transformation Council (NTC) was wrong in alleging that Aquino has “lost the moral right to lead the nation.”
“The voice of the people is the voice of God. Eh yon na,ang ating mga kababayan, ipinakita na ang kanilang boses sa pamamagitan ng halalan and we have to respect that,” Barzaga said.
The NTC—a multi-sectoral group composed of religious leaders and civil society members—has called on Aquino to step down from office for “damaging the moral fabric of society.”
Among the group’s prominent members are Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and Davao City Bishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla.
Malacañang has brushed aside the group’s calls for Aquino’s resignation, saying the administration is focused on implementing its reform programs.
Barzaga said some Church leaders may be holding a grudge against Aquino because of the Reproductive Health (RH) law, a landmark legislation enacted in 2012.
The Catholic Church has been vocal about its opposition to the RH law because it promotes both natural and artificial family planning methods. The Church supports only natural family planning.
Barzaga said he is concerned that some Filipinos might break the law in calling for Aquino’s resignation after hearing the bishops’ sentiment.
“We are a [predominantly] Roman Catholic country at maraming naniniwala na devoted catholics sa sinasabi ng ating mga obispo. The danger is that people might lose their faith or adherence to the rule of law at maniwala dito sa sinasabi ng ating mga bishops,” he said. — Xianne Arcangel/JDS, GMA News
