We must now start thinking ‘post-Aquino’

The call on President B. S. Aquino 3rd to step down as a result of the Jan. 25 Mamasapano, Maguindanao massacre has now become irreversible. It has taken hold of our people’s consciousness, and is now sweeping across the nation. In Cebu last Friday, Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, archbishop emeritus of Cebu, flanked by Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa, Batangas, Archbishop Romulo de la Cruz of Zamboanga, Bishop Ramon Villena of Bayombong, Bishop Filomeno Bactol of Naval, Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla of Davao, and a special representative of Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos of Butuan, plus some visiting leaders of non-Catholic Christian churches, read the latest statement reaffirming the moral validity of the call for PNoy’s immediate departure, in the light of the latest developments.

Of the bishops present, only Palma, who presided over the Holy Mass in honor of the Cardinal’s 84 birthday at his private residence, prior to the statement, has not endorsed the call. Many members of the Cebu clergy, however, are sympathetic to it.